DURHAM are hoping for two more big days in London after today's final group game in the CB 40 League against Surrey at the Oval.

With a Lord's final at stake, Durham will qualify for the semi-finals as long as they avoid a heavy defeat today and would prefer to return to the same venue next Sunday if the alternative is a trip to Taunton.

Surrey have already secured a home semi-final and Somerset will follow suit if they win at home to Essex today. Durham will not fancy another bashing from Marcus Trescothick's men, who have piled up two big scores against them in the championship this season.

As they move on to a four-day match at Hove, starting on Wednesday, Durham travelled south yesterday with a 15-man squad. It does not include Ben Stokes because of England duties, but Scott Borthwick and Graham Onions return.

Gordon Muchall, who tops the national batting averages in this competition, is also included, despite being left out of both the one-day and four-day teams last week.

Surrey have included Indian left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha at the expense of Pakistani paceman Yasir Arafat. Ojha, 24, has played in 11 Tests and recently joined Surrey for the rest of the season.

Durham should get through as the best second-placed team in the three groups. The only threat comes from Nottinghamshire, who can match their points tally by winning at home to Lancashire but have an inferior run rate.