BOTH sides are hoping to have a key bowler back in action when Durham face Somerset at Riverside over the next five days.

A week after twisting his ankle in the floodlit game at Hove, Shoaib Akhtar should be fit to return after missing the rain-hit match at Derby.

He will replace Liam Plunkett, who has teamed up with the England Under 19 squad for the three Tests against South Africa, starting at Headingley on Friday.

Somerset expect to recall Richard Johnson, who began the season with a nine-wicket match haul in the six-wicket win against Durham at Taunton.

He took his good form into the two Tests against Zimbabwe, including the one at Riverside, but has recently been sidelined by his constant knee problem and a couple of other niggles.

Johnson is near the top of the national bowling averages with 29 wickets at 17.82 and is a key performer for Somerset, who have slipped down the division two table without him. They lost in two days at Northampton last week and are now sixth, one place above Durham, who have a game in hand.

Somerset's chief executive, Peter Anderson, has written to ten players telling them they face the sack following performances which he described as "shambolic and embarrassing."

Their two overseas men have done well, with Australian Jamie Cox averaging over 50 with the bat, while West Indian Nixon McLean has taken more than 50 first-class wickets.

In a season when they have been unable to field a settled attack, Durham's leading first-class wicket-taker is Nicky Phillips with 28. But Durham are continuing to prefer Graeme Bridge for the moment, despite his poor figures at Derby.

"I thought he bowled OK," said coach Martyn Moxon. "And Neil Killeen bowled pretty well all match, but overall I was disappointed with our bowling in the first innings.

"After scoring 500 we made it a bit too easy for them, but we improved in the second innings."

Durham will decide this morning whether to give Mark Davies his first championship outing this season in place of Nicky Hatch.

Martin Love is expected back from Australia on Friday and will play in the National League game against Somerset on Sunday.

While Nicky Peng made way the last time Love was available, his 99 at Derby has put the pressure on Gordon Muchall.

He has been unable to settle in the No 3 slot and has a top score of 30 in 15 championship innings since making 74 against Worcestershire at Stockton.

Durham (from): J J B Lewis (capt), M A Gough, G J Muchall, G J Pratt, N Peng, V J Wells, P Mustard, G D Bridge, Shoaib Akhtar, N Killeen, N G Hatch, A M Davies.