MARTIN Love goes into the last match of the season today needing 142 to break the Durham record for championship runs in a season.

The record of 1,417 was set by Wayne Larkins in 1992 and the only other person who has made more than Love's current tally of 1,276 is John Morris with 1,369 in 1994.

Durham face Worcestershire at the Riverside hoping to complete a double after registering one of their three wins this season at Kidderminster, where Love was furious with himself for twice getting out in the fifties.

"I'm due a hundred and if I could beat the record it would be a nice way to sign off," he said.

With Simon Katich's commitments with the Australian Test squad likely to rule him out, Durham are keen to have Love back next year.

"I'll let them know by mid-November," he said. "Our season at home starts in the first week of October and I want to be sure that my body is coping.

"If I feel OK I'd be very happy to come back. I've certainly enjoyed it, apart from all the travelling and not getting a few more hundreds."

No-one else is going to reach 1,000 runs for Durham this season. That will be a disappointment for Paul Collingwood, but after his brilliant start he has made only one 50 in 12 innings since missing three games during his England one-day baptism. His current tally is 807 and Jon Lewis is next with 717.

Collingwood comes back in after missing the win at Hove with a knee injury, and Ian Hunter also returns in place of side injury victim James Brinkley.

The batsman to stand down is Nicky Peng, with coach Martyn Moxon explaining: "After Sunday he had played 26 out of the previous 30 days and we feel he needs a break to get him fresh for Sunday."

That's when Durham play Worcestershire in their final Norwich Union League match, which will decide whether or not they are promoted.

Gary Pratt retains his place after being unlucky to twice fall lbw to the third frenzied appeal of an over from James Kirtley at Hove.

"They were difficult batting conditions and it was a tough baptism for him," said Moxon. "The captain and I were both keen that it should not be a one-off appearance for Gary.

"We are looking to the future and we want to give him experience in what has been a problem area for us."

Michael Gough, who opened for the first ten matches, is still troubled by a back problem, although it is felt that rest and treatment will cure it.

Unless Durham win this game the likelihood is that they will finish second bottom and Moxon added: "We want to finish strongly. We gave a good, solid, professional performance at Hove and we need to carry that on."

Durham: J J B Lewis (capt), G Pratt, M L Love, P D Collingwood, J A Daley, D R Law, A Pratt, I D Hunter, G D Bridge, S J Harmison, N G Hatch.

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