DURHAM will have Steve Harmison in their team for the four-day match against Nottinghamshire starting at Trent Bridge today, but not Liam Plunkett.

If Harmison proves his fitness there is a chance he will replace Plunkett in the team for the second Test next week, but after bowling 31 overs in Sri Lanka's second innings at Lord's England want the Teessider to rest in case he is needed again at Edgbaston.

"England want to see how much Steve bowls for us in this match before deciding whether he can play again on Sunday," said coach Martyn Moxon.

"It will be tough deciding who to leave out, but it's a nice position to be in and we will make a decision once we have seen the pitch."

Harmison will replace either Ottis Gibson or Callum Thorp in the Durham line-up. In terms of value to the attack Gibson should be the one to stand down following match figures of two for 115 in 27 overs against Middlesex, while Thorp had four for 47 in 23 overs.

But it would mean either Thorp or Harmison going in at No 8, which is a position Durham would like Plunkett to occupy. Lengthening the tail is not an attractive proposition at a time when Gareth Breese has so far having totalled 80 runs in five innings at No 6.

After winning the first and second divisions in successive seasons, Nottinghamshire have made a poor start this year and lie next to the bottom with two defeats and a draw.

But they will have skipper Stephen Fleming in the side for the first time following New Zealand's Test series against South Africa.

Durham have previously come across Fleming playing for Middlesex and Yorkshire and he scored a century for Middlesex at Riverside in 2001.

Although Durham lost by three wickets on their last visit to Trent Bridge two years ago, they were so short of bowlers they went into the match with temporary signing Pallav Kumar in their line-up. Among his three victims was Kevin Pietersen for a duck and Durham looked like winning until Chris Read tipped the balance with an unbeaten century.

The ground should have good memories for Gary Pratt as he made 71 in the second innings. It was his best score prior to being dropped in mid-season and after being left out of the championship side last season he is battling hard to re-establish himself.

Durham go from Trent Bridge to Worcester for a C & G Trophy match on Sunday.

Durham (from): D M Benkenstein, J J B Lewis, J P Maher, G J Muchall, G J Pratt, G R Breese, P Mustard, O D Gibson, S J Harmison, G Onions, M L Lewis, C D Thorp.

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