DURHAM skipper Jon Lewis will decide this morning whether he is fit to resume at his home club, Colchester, but there is no place for their other former Essex man, Danny Law.

Durham desperately need Lewis back against the third-placed hosts, who will fancy their chances of promotion as they also still have to visit the Riverside.

But they are without their own captain, Ronni Irani, who may not play for them again this season because of a knee problem.

Like Durham's Paul Collingwood, his priority is to be fit for the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, starting on September 12.

Lewis tested his groin injury before leaving with the 13-man squad yesterday and admitted: "It's not going to get any better without surgery. I will decide in the morning if I think I can get through the game."

Gordon Muchall returns after England Under 19 duty while Graeme Bridge and Marc Symington rejoin the squad after recovering from injury. With Stephen Harmison on England duty, Ian Hunter also returns.

Bridge was first-choice spinner before breaking a finger, but if Lewis is unfit and Durham decide they don't need two spinners he may have to take a back seat to acting captain Nicky Phillips.

"When I was with Essex, pitches at Colchester always took spin, but perhaps they were prepared that way because we had Peter Such and John Childs," he said.

"We don't know what the pitch will be like this time, but it would be silly to go without two spinners."

The Durham players are all aware of chairman Bill Midgley's stinging criticism after the ten-wicket defeat inside five sessions by Glamorgan.

Those who are out of contract at the end of the season are now even more aware that they are playing for their futures.

Ashley Thorpe has been retained at the expense of Law, but there is no place for the other player who made his championship debut against Glamorgan, Ian Pattison.

"I've told him I don't like picking someone for one game and I think he will play again for us before the end of the season," said Lewis.

The news of Collingwood is not encouraging as he has discovered that the discs in his spine have degenerated, making him susceptible to nerve damage.

He is making slow progress and is hoping an operation will not be necessary, but currently has little idea when he will be fit.

When Durham visited Colchester three years ago there was no play for the first two days following torrential rain. Durham then made 350 for eight declared with Jimmy Daley hitting 105, his third and final championship century. Essex replied with 215, Neil Killeen taking four wickets.

It was a match in which Law bowled seven overs of rubbish for 43 runs, and unfortunately his bowling has gone backwards again this season after his late start because of a back problem.

Durham (from): J J B Lewis, M A Gough, G J Pratt, G J Muchall, N Peng, A M Thorpe, M J Symington, A Pratt, G D Bridge, N C Phillips, A M Davies, N Killeen, I D Hunter.

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