A MONTH after tearing a calf muscle at the Oval, Gareth Breese is ready to return to the Durham team for tonight's Friends Life t20 game at Derby.

The off-spinning all-rounder has been a vital part of the one-day side in recent years and could replace one of the seamers on a ground where Durham have struggled to contain the hosts on their last two visits.

Breese had the best figures of two for 27 when Derbyshire rattled up 183 for three last year to win by five runs. The 2010 match was washed out after they had made 172 for three in 19 overs.

Coach Geoff Cook said: "Gareth is an experienced Twenty20 player and it depends on the surface whether we will shuffle the pack. It could be an opportunity for him if it's a turning wicket."

The match starts at 7.10 under the Derby floodlights as Sky have chosen to switch their coverage from the Oval, where the Surrey v Hampshire match has been postponed following the death of Tom Maynard.

After a win and a defeat Durham are still waiting for Herschelle Gibbs to fire but fellow South African Johann Myburgh hit 45 against Nottinghamshire and Cook said: "He is a good cricketer.

"People think Twenty20 is all about hitting the ball to the boundary. Joahnn has the ability to do that but he is also a bright batsman. He worked out the conditions very well and played some classy shots.

"The toss was crucial. We would have put them in had we won it.

"Nobody knew how the pitch would play and our first four batsmen were all caught in the ring trying to impose themselves."

Derbyshire, who also have one win and a defeat, plus a washed-out match, have included Sunderland-born pacemen Mark Turner so far.

Since making his Durham debut in 2005 he has played only 16 first-class matches and he was also seen as more a one-day man during his time with Somerset.

Derbyshire's overseas men are Pakistani paceman Naved-ul-Hasan, who is well known to Durham, and Usman Khawaja, a left-handed batsman who has played in six Tests for Australia.

Durham (from): DM Benkenstein (capt), P Mustard, H H Gibbs, B A Stokes, J G Myburgh, G J Muchall, G R Breese, S G Borthwick, L E Plunkett, M E Claydon, G Onions, C Rushworth.