PAUL Coughlin's side injury is not as serious as feared and he is in the Durham second team squad for the three-day match against Scotland A, starting at Seaton Carew today.

After breaking down in Somerset's second innings at Taunton last week, Coughlin will have to prove his fitness if he is to retain his place for the home match against Sussex, starting on Sunday.

The competition for his place is intense, led by fellow all-rounder Usman Arshad with Irish duo Peter Chase and Barry McCarthy also in contention.

Jamie Harrison is an outsider as he continues his recovery from an ankle operation, but he is in the squad of 13 today.

They include a second wicketkeeper in Elliott Holmes in case Stuart Poynter and Chase do not get back in time after playing for Ireland A against MCC at Lord's yesterday.

Despite topping Durham's championship bowling averages last season, when he played in the last three games and took 11 wickets at 15.72, Chase did not feature in Ireland's World Cup team.

He took none for 61 in ten overs yesterday as the MCC made 249, but Poynter continued his good form with the bat after going in at No 6. He followed his 98 for Durham seconds at Bristol last week by making an 80-ball century to take the Irish to victory after slipping to 89 for five.

Although the Ireland senior team play England at Malahide on May 8, the three-man Durham contingent are not expected to have too many Irish calls this summer.

Once England fly back from Dublin, Durham are hoping they might see something of Ben Stokes. The home championship match against Nottinghamshire starts on May 10, but the more likely bet is that he will be able to play in the opening Twenty20 game at home to Northamptonshire on May 15.

“We are planning on being without him, so if we do see him at all it's a bonus,” said coach Jon Lewis.

Durham seconds (from): G Muchall (capt), G Clark, R Carr, R Pringle, A Hickey, P Coughlin, U Arshad, J Bousfield, B McCarthy, J Harrison, E Holmes, S Poynter, P Chase.