DURHAM are confident that Ben Stokes will be fit to bowl in the LV County Championship game at home to Middlesex starting today.

It’s a crucial game after Middlesex knocked Durham off top spot last week and a fullyfit Stokes is essential to the balance of the team.

Coach Geoff Cook would welcome a repeat of last season’s win in this fixture, although without quite the level of nerve-tingling drama which accompanied the15-run victory.

That match was played in damp conditions and the seam attacks vied for honours as Durham were dismissed for 102 in the first innings and Middlesex made the same total when they needed 118 to win.

Cook said: “We’re back to early season conditions and having Stokes fit to be part of a four-man seam attack would be a big boost.

“Graham Onions is back, so we will then choose two from Chris Rushworth, Callum Thorp and Mark Wood, who has made a good impression.

“Dale Benkenstein’s injury means there will have to be a bit of tinkering, which we could do without when we’re doing well and looking to keep some continuity.”

Keaton Jennings is set to return and there could be a first opportunity of the season for Michael Richardson after they shared a stand of 275 when the second team beat Leeds/Bradford University in a 45-over match last week.

Jennings made 133 not out and Richardson 129.

The other option is to recall Gareth Breese following his recovery from a side injury, although spin is not expected to feature very much. Ryan Buckley will definitely not play after his dream debut at the Oval because he has a sore back.

Stokes has not bowled since injuring his back when falling over backwards in taking a brilliant catch in the YB 40 match at the Oval 13 days ago.

He took the last two wickets to clinch last season’s win against a side for whom seamers Tim Murtagh and Toby Roland Jones are again doing well.

Middlesex will be without England paceman Steve Finn, but will include James Harris, the ex-Glamorgan seamer who interested most counties, including Durham, when seeking a new county at the end of last season.

Durham (from): P D Collingwood (capt), M D Stoneman, W R Smith, K K Jennings, M A Richardson, B A Stokes, P Mustard, S G Borthwick, M A Wood, C Thorp, G Onions, C Rushworth, G R Breese.