DURHAM are considering taking a gamble on Stephen Harmison when they visit one of their outgrounds for the first time for two years today.

The England Academy paceman had the batsmen hopping around in the nets at Feethams yesterday and could return against Derbyshire at the Darlington ground.

Harmison suffered a side strain in a Benson & Hedges match in early May and has failed to make much impression during his second team outings since his recovery.

But skipper Jon Lewis said: "He is chomping at the bit to get in. We know he might bowl a couple of bad spells, but then he might take three or four wickets. It would be a gamble to play him, but we are considering it."

With Mark Davies also back in the squad after being rested at Northampton, and Nicky Hatch in contention on his home ground, Durham have taken the surprising step of leaving out Danny Law and Ian Hunter.

Because the pitch looks dry they have retained off-spinner Nicky Phillips in a squad with an alarming lack of all-rounders.

Law has batted as well as anyone since his return from injury, making 68 and 72 not out in the two games against Worcestershire, while Hunter made a career-best 65 at Northampton.

The only player in today's squad fitting into the all-rounder category is Marc Symington, who is now being seen more as a batsman.

It seems Durham are giving him every opportunity to prove he can survive in what is currently a very fragile top order, not helped by Andrew Pratt coming in at six at a time when his batting form seems to have deserted him.

Lewis admitted that leaving out Law would put more pressure on the top order, but insisted that they have to prove their worth.

He will be drawing on his own memories of carrying his bat for 158 not out against Kent at Feethams in 1997.

Durham won that match by 135 runs and it was one of four victories they have enjoyed at the ground, starting with an eight-wicket win against Somerset in 1992.

The following year Warwickshire were beaten by nine wickets, with Paul Parker making 159 in the first innings and Wayne Larkins 113 not out in the second.

The other two wins were inspired by Melvyn Betts, who followed Lewis's epic innings with seven for 29 against Kent, then grabbed seven for 30 as Derbyshire were beaten by an innings and 79 runs two years ago.

Dominic Cork did not play in that match, but he has been in tremendous form this season and is the country's leading-wicket taker with 46 in the championship.

No Durham bowler has taken five wickets in an innings this season, but Cork took five in both innings when the sides met at Derby at the end of April, when the hosts won by two runs.

His new-ball partner, left-armer Kevin Dean, has also been among the wickets and they are the chief reason why Derbyshire have been transformed from wooden spoonists to promotion contenders.

They also have Mohammad Ali, the Pakistani with an English wife, who burst on to the scene against Durham with a rapid half-century followed by some pacy left-arm bowling, which broke Jimmy Daley's finger.

Daley has now picked up a shoulder injury and his future looks increasingly bleak.

Durham (from): J J B Lewis (capt), G J Pratt, G J Muchall, N Peng, M J Symington, A Pratt, G D Bridge, A M Davies, N Killeen, N C Phillips, S J Harmison, N G Hatch.

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