DURHAM need a big improvement in their batting if they are to stay in the title race by winning at home to leaders Sussex, starting today.

Since amassing 474 in the win against Warwickshire, they have picked up only three out of a possible 15 batting points.

They have resisted the temptation to make changes following last week's two-day defeat at Blackpool, which means the only choice to make is again between Mark Davies and Graham Onions.

While Ottis Gibson needs only one wicket to equal Simon Brown's Durham record of 69 championship wickets in a season, the support has been disappointing.

Steve Harmison dominated in the early games, with 24 wickets in the first three matches, then Onions took eight for 101 in the fourth game at Edgbaston, and since then Gibson has been the main man.

Liam Plunkett reached 30 wickets last week, one ahead of Onions, but would be disappointed with match figures of three for 103 on the sub-standard Blackpool pitch.

As expected, Lancashire escaped a points penalty, so both they and Hampshire are 7.5 points ahead of Durham, who have slipped back to fifth after climbing to second when they completed the double over Worcestershire.

Four of Durham's five wins have been against teams in the bottom three and they at least have the consolation of going into this match knowing they can't be relegated as Warwickshire can't catch them.

Durham are 16.5 points behind Sussex and to overhaul them they need maximum points while restricting their visitors to five.

Durham need to have their noses in front going into their final game at Canterbury next week because Sussex play relegated Worcestershire at Hove.

Even then, if Sussex do slip up at Riverside Lancashire would be the most likely to capitalise as they entertain Warwickshire this week then visit the Oval.

"It's great to have these games to play at this stage of the season," said Durham coach Geoff Cook.

"We're still involved and hopefully the younger players will have learnt a few lessons last week. Lancashire played with a lot of intensity and so will Sussex.

"Several batsmen and a couple of bowlers would have liked to have contributed more at Blackpool.

"But Kyle Coetzer was playing well and was unlucky to be given out in the second innings, and Mark Davies beat the bat a lot. I'd like to know how many times Stuart Law played and missed."

Durham hope to have both Michael Di Venuto and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in their team from mid-May onwards next season. They missed the West Indian last week, just as they missed their left-handed opener in the innings defeat at Hove, when he was injured.

Only one overseas player is permitted next year, but there is a good chance that Di Venuto will play under his Italian passport, although he will not be announcing that until near the end of his final season with Tasmania as it would render him an overseas player in Australia.

Spinners Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed have been included for Surrey, while Jason Lewry leads a pace attack devoid of James Kirtley and Luke Wright who are on England duty in South Africa.

Durham (from): D M Benkenstein (capt), M J Di Venuto, M D Stoneman, K J Coetzer, B W Harmison, G J Muchall, P Mustard, O D Gibson, L E Plunkett, P J Wiseman, M Davies, G Onions.