DOES Blackpool take spin? At Labour party conferences almost certainly, but what about the cricket ground?

That was one of the questions Durham were trying to assess when they prepared at Stanley Park yesterday for today's C & G Trophy quarter-final against Lancashire.

A Robbie Williams concert at Old Trafford has resulted in Durham playing one of the biggest games in their first-class history in a place better known for candy floss and donkey rides.

Lancashire use only one of their four outgrounds each year and they last played at Stanley Park in a championship match against Glamorgan two years ago, when Mike Atherton made his career-best score of 268 not out.

Wisden recalls how one of his 41 fours came courtesy of assistance from a white terrier, which emerged from the deckchairs, grabbed the ball and carried it over the boundary.

Lancashire made 556 for six declared, and despite a century by Adrian Dale, Glamorgan followed on and lost by ten wickets, Muthiah Muralitharan taking ten wickets in the match and Chris Schofield eight.

Perhaps with that in mind, Lancashire have included two spinners in their squad for today in Schofield and Gary Yates.

Durham coach Martyn Moxon said: "The only time I played at Blackpool was in a Geoff Boycott benefit match, which shows how long ago it was.

"On a small ground there's an argument for not using a spinner in a one-day match, but we'll have to decide if we think it will turn.

"We would prefer it to be a good pitch, otherwise a one-day match can become a bit of a lottery. We would be happy to bat first and keep the same batting order. I would like to think there's a big score just around the corner from Danny Law.

"The last few weeks have not been his most productive with the bat, but he's obviously capable of taking advantage of the fielding restrictions in the first 15 overs, and on a flat pitch those 15 overs can be important."

There is a slight doubt about Law because of a hamstring problem, and Jimmy Daley has joined the squad, while Nicky Hatch will come in if they decide not to play Graeme Bridge.

But the likelihood is it will be the same team which beat Sussex so convincingly on Sunday, with James Brinkley for Steve Harmison being the only change from the side which knocked out Gloucestershire.

"We don't want to change a winning formula for such a big match," said Moxon. "We are trying to do the basics well - bowl in the right areas, field with intensity and have a plan when we bat.

"To the players' credit they have carried it out well. They have stayed calm under pressure whether they are chasing a target or setting one, so if conditions are good we're not really bothered whether we bat first or not. We are learning to handle pressure situations.

"Lancashire have not had the greatest season in one-day cricket, but when you look down their team they have a lot of talent.

"We have beaten them twice this season partly by targeting certain players and deciding how we want to bowl at them."

Although Andrew Flintoff has hardly made a run against Durham, he is the player who could put the game beyond them, as he did in last season's quarter-final when he made 135 not out against Surrey.

Skipper John Crawley is absent following the death of his mother, but Neil Fairbrother remains a threat, even though he is pushing 38. When Durham looked like snatching victory in the Benson & Hedges quarter-final at Old Trafford last year, it was Fairbrother's unbeaten 57 which denied them.

John Wood's four for 26 gave Durham their chance in that match, but he will be playing for the opposition today. With Wood to support Peter Martin and Glen Chapple, Lancashire look to have a big advantage in the pace department. But in one-day cricket strangling seam can be more effective, and Durham will hope that Brinkley, Law, Mark Davies and Paul Collingwood can keep the shackles on.

This is Durham's fifth cup quarter-final, but only their second in the premier knockout event. They lost to Leicestershire at Grace Road in 1992 and until this season had never beaten a first-class county since in this competition.

Now with the scalps of Hampshire and Gloucestershire under their belts, and having twice beaten Lancashire this season, there is every prospect of reaching their first semi-final.

Durham (from): J J B Lewis (capt), N Peng, D R Law, M L Love, P D Collingwood, M P Speight, M A Gough, A Pratt, J E Brinkley, G D Bridge, A M Davies, J A Daley, N G Hatch.

Lancashire (from): M A Atherton, G Chapple, M J Chilton, A Flintoff, N H Fairbrother, J C Scuderi, J J Haynes, W K Hegg, C P Schofield, J Wood, P J Martin, G Yates.