AFTER a cracking start in their defence of the Royal London Cup, Durham must find a way past Kumar Sangakkara at home to fellow group leaders Surrey today.

Both teams have two wins and one washout and Surrey have impressed without so far requiring a big innings from the Sri Lankan star.

Sangakkara played two championship matches for Durham last season, scoring nought and 14 at home to Yorkshire before making 159 against Sussex at Hove.

In the Yorkshire match he was twice caught in the slips off Ryan Sidebottom, which might encourage Durham to retain their own left-armer, Jamie Harrison.

He played as an extra bowler on the superb batting track at Taunton on Wednesday, but Durham might prefer to load the batting for a home match.

Victory in this game could go a long way towards securing a home tie in the last eight and Surrey will be far stronger than when they visited for the final group game last season.

With no chance of progress they fielded probably the weakest attack ever seen at Chester-le-Street, but none of those bowlers will be playing today.

Surrey appear to have unearthed two seamers of huge potential in the Curran brothers, Tom, 19, and Sam, 17. They are the sons of the late Kevin Curran, who played for Zimbabwe, Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire.

Both took a wicket and conceded runs at only four an over in Wednesday's six-run win against Yorkshire at the Oval.

Surrey thrashed Northants by 220 runs on Tuesday, when England's recent one-day opener Jason Roy thrashed a 74-ball century and fellow opener Steve Davies scored 99.

Despite Mark Wood's omission from the third Test, he has not been made available to Durham either today or for Sunday's match at home to Yorkshire.

He has a slight ankle problem and England want him fully fit for next week's Test at Trent Bridge, where he has a good record.

After scores of one and 12 in Durham's two cup wins, Graham Clark will be hoping to make his mark after signing his first professional contract yesterday. It will keep him at the club until the end of next season.

The 22-year-old Cumbrian batsman, who hit an unbeaten 91 in the Twenty20 match at Headingley, said: “I was born into a cricketing family and have been aspiring to be a professional cricketer since I was tiny. For that moment to come now is fantastic”

Clark, who plays his club cricket for Newcastle, is the younger brother of Lancashire's Jordan Clark. Their parents are both qualified coaches.

“My dad still plays at the age of 54, and he’s still going well, so we’ve just been brought up with it really,” said Graham.

“The year I spent with MCC Young Cricketers in 2013 made me realise how much I wanted to be a professional cricketer and how much I would have to work to get there.

“I just want to become a regular first team player now, make big contributions and win trophies for Durham.”

Head coach Jon Lewis said: “It’s great to see another cricketer come through our Academy and sign a professional contract and hopefully he can kick on now.”

*Graham Onions got in some valuable match practice when he bowled 20 overs and took four for 59 for the Unicorns against England Under 19s at Loughborough yesterday.

As he is unlikely to be required in the Royal London Cup he offered his services with a view to helping the Under 19s prepare for their four-day match against Australia, starting at the Emirates Durham ICG next week.

Onions is doing his level four coaching badge and Kevin Shine, the ECB's lead fast bowling coach, said: “For the lads to be able to hear first-hand from a guy who is still playing and is a high-grade coach makes sense all round. He has also shown great character in the way he has battled back from injury to enjoy so much success.”

Durham (from): M D Stoneman (capt), P Mustard, S G Borthwick, G Clark, P D Collingwood, G J Muchall, R D Pringle, J W Hastings, U Arsahd, J Harrison, C Rushworth, K K Jennings, C S MacLeod