AN injury to Danny Law has opened the door for 19-year-old Gordon Muchall to make his first-class debut for Durham against Middlesex at the Riverside today.

The loss of their key all-rounder with a back injury is a big blow for Durham going into their opening match in the Frizzell County Championship.

"Danny felt some stiffness after the Durham University game," said coach Martyn Moxon.

"He had two days' rest then pulled up when he bowled in the nets.

"Gordon will bat at six. We are looking at him mainly as a batsman, but he will bowl his medium pace if we need him to. It probably means more bowling for Paul Collingwood.

"Gordon impressed us all on the pre-season tour with his ability and his attitude. It's a great opportunity for him and hopefully he will grasp it."

Muchall, who played in the Under 19 World Cup in the winter, was born in Newcastle and is the third product of Durham School to play first-class cricket for Durham after Mike Roseberry and Robin Weston.

Roseberry has retired, but Weston is in the Middlesex team today and they will be led by Angus Fraser, who will fulfil his captaincy duties until he takes up a position as cricket correspondent of The Independent next month.

Durham have opted for Jimmy Daley to open the batting with skipper Jon Lewis, preferring him to Gary Pratt and Michael Gough, who returned after a back injury in the second team match against Durham University yesterday.

"Jimmy just shades it ahead of them both," said Moxon.

"It's also a tough call to decide our final seamer as Ian Hunter has been bowling very well and has scored a few runs.

"We'll probably go with Simon Brown as long as we are sure he is fit enough for a four-day game."

Brown, who had a niggle in his side, played for the seconds yesterday and Durham are waiting to make sure there is no reaction.

Mark Davies is in the squad and could make his championship debut after a successful first-class baptism against Durham University.

Middlesex will have four left-handers in their top six, the exceptions being Weston and Owais Shah, who lit up the Riverside last season with innings of 190 and 88. Nicky Peng also made a hundred and the match was drawn after half a day was lost to the weather.

Former Durham University student Andrew Strauss, an England Academy member who is to take over from Fraser as captain, is expected to open with new signing Sven Koenig, a 28-year-old South African who qualifies by virtue of an Italian mother.

Irishman Ed Joyce and off-spinning all-rounder Paul Weekes complete the quartet of left-handers.

Middlesex's new overseas man, Pakistani all-rounder Abdur Razzak, is not yet available, so his place is taken by Australian pace bowler Ashley Noffke.

He is a colleague of Durham's Martin Love in the Queensland team which recently won Australia's Inter State Championship.

Durham (from): J J B Lewis (capt), J A Daley, M J Love, P D Collingwood, N Peng, G J Muchall, A Pratt, A M Davies, N Killeen, N C Phillips, S J Harmison, A N Other.

Middlesex (from): A J Strauss, S G Koenig, R M S Weston, O A Shah, E Joyce, P N Weekes, D C Nash, A Noffke, C Keegan, A R C Fraser (capt), P C Tufnell, S J Cook.

Read more about Durham here.