PAUL Collingwood is set to take over the captaincy of Durham's one-day team tomorrow if Dale Benkenstein decides not to risk his injured shoulder.

The opening CB 40 League match is at home to Somerset, who knocked out Durham in the semi-final at Taunton last year.

It is hoped that the captaincy will bring out the best in Collingwood, who signed a three-year contract last summer but has since struggled for form.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge," he said. "I've done it in the past and I'm excited about it.

"This is a competition we want to win and we need a good start. What we need is some sun so we can have a good one-day pitch and put on a show for the crowd.

"I've hardly scored a run, but the adrenalin is still there and I feel in good nick, so I believe runs are just around the corner."

Collingwood was at his best last season in the 40-over competition, averaging 48.6 from six innings, although he was among the failures at Taunton.

The previous week he had scored 96 as Durham amassed 325 for nine at the Oval to inflict the only defeat of the competition on Surrey, who beat Somerset in the final.

Having qualified for the semi-finals by winning their last five group games, Durham went to Taunton with high hopes, especially as Marcus Trescothick was ruled out by injury.

But they never fully recovered from slipping to 44 for four and also bowled poorly as they were beaten by 39 runs under the Duckworth / Lewis method.

Durham had to travel straight to Taunton from a four-day game at Hove with no day off and the same thing could happen again with the semi-finals scheduled for Saturday, September 1, straight after the visit to Old Trafford.

As a home semi-final has to be the target, Durham need a better start than last season if they are to top a tough group, which also includes Surrey, Nottinghamshire and Hampshire.

Glamorgan and Scotland are the other two sides and the Scots have already beaten Nottinghamshire in a rain-affected game in Edinburgh.

Durham are not naming their squad until today and it will be interesting to see whether they take a gamble on Liam Plunkett.

As a powerful striker with the bat, his all-round capabilities used to make him an essential part of the one-day team and this competition probably offers his best route back to first team duties.

His last senior appearance was in the Twenty20 quarter-final at the Rose Bowl on August 7, when he didn't bowl. Durham have been working on his accuracy since then, but he surely needs to be tested in a more competitive environment than second team cricket at the Derbyshire club ground of Belper, where he has been for the last three days.

Also hoping for his first senior action of the season will be Gareth Breese, who is now in his ninth season with Durham.

At 36, he is one of those coming towards the end of his career and has played no championship cricket for two years. But he has continued to be a regular member of the one-day side.

Durham are desperate for one-day success as they are not going to win the championship. They suffered their seventh washed-out day yesterday and with better weather forecast for the final day against Somerset at Chester-le-Street all they can do is concentrate on avoiding defeat.

On 220 for eight Somerset are 95 ahead and will fancy bowling out Durham cheaply for a second time in the damp conditions.

Whatever happens Durham will remain bottom of the table, with the team just above them, Worcestershire, apparently on their way to victory against Surrey.