DURHAM will be without seamer James Brinkley for the final week of the season because of the side injury he suffered at Cardiff on Monday.

Either Marc Symington or Nicky Hatch will step in for tomorrow's Norwich Union League match against Essex at the Riverside.

Victory might be enough to secure promotion for Durham, depending on results elsewhere, but they will have to wait at least until the following Sunday to know their fate.

That's when they entertain promotion rivals Worcestershire in their final match and two wins would certainly take Durham up.

Otherwise they are unlikely to know their destiny until Sunday, September 16, when Worcestershire are at home to Essex and Hampshire visit Sussex.

Glamorgan look likely champions and of the three teams vying for the other two promotion places, Durham have 38 points from 14 games, Worcester 34 from 13, and Hampshire 34 from 14.

A win for Glamorgan at Worcester tomorrow would help Durham, while Hampshire have to wait until next Sunday to entertain Middlesex.

Brinkley's absence is a blow as he has proved an economical one-day bowler, again coming on to stem a runaway start at Cardiff after Glamorgan reached 62 without loss after seven overs.

He took one for 11 in 3.2 overs before retiring with the side strain which has ended his season, also preventing him from playing for Scotland in their C & G Trophy win against the Middlesex Board on Wednesday.

Brinkley will finish top of Durham's championship bowling averages with 30 wickets at 20.1, despite missing several games in mid-season because of his commitments with Scotland in the World Cup qualifiers.

After taking ten wickets for the second team, Ian Hunter will join the squad for Wednesday's final championship match at the Riverside against Worcestershire.

Read more about Durham Cricket Club here.