DURHAM's two home-grown Test players will appear together in the side for the only time this season in skipper Jon Lewis's benefit match at Riverside tomorrow.

Paul Collingwood returns after his knee injury to join Stephen Harmison in the line-up, while a third Test player, Zimbabwean Andy Blignaut, makes his debut against totesport League division two leaders Middlesex.

Durham are fourth and coach Martyn Moxon said: "It's a very important match. We have the strongest side we have had out this season and we hope to get a good crowd to swell the coffers for Jon's much-deserved benefit.

"It has been a tough season for him. At times we have had problems getting 11 men on the field and he has not scored as many runs as he would have liked, which as captain makes life difficult.

"But he's a pretty phlegmatic character. He's a fighter and never gives anything less than 100 per cent whatever he is doing.

"Middlesex are flying high, but with the team we will have out it should be a very good match and hopefully we can beat them and bring them back into the mix."

Harmison will be back on Test duty against the West Indies on Thursday and it remains to be seen whether Collingwood will be required.

After the Twenty20 win against Yorkshire on Thursday, Durham face a selection dilemma for virtually the first time this season.

There is to be no quick return for Nicky Peng following his recovery from his shoulder injury, and two people have to make way for Collingwood and Blignaut.

Phil Mustard has been retained in the squad after top scoring with 132 runs in five innings in the Twenty20 competition.

Durham's totesport visit to Lord's this season was reduced to 20 overs a side by rain and former Durham paceman Melvyn Betts took two for 17 to help restrict his ex-teammates to 120 for seven.

Middlesex won by seven wickets, but Betts has hardly featured since as the team have gone well clear at the top without him.

Durham (from): J J B Lewis (capt), M North, P D Collingwood, P Mustard, G J Pratt, G R Breese, G J Muchall, A Pratt, A M Blignaut, G D Bridge, N Killeen, M Davies, S J Harmison, G Onions.

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