DURHAM have been spared a selection dilemma for their match against Nottinghamshire starting at Trent Bridge today as Simon Brown is still not fit.

The left-arm paceman was expected to recover from a side strain in time to play against Gloucestershire at the weekend, when his absence allowed James Brinkley to seize his early chance.

After taking a career-best six for 32 on Saturday, Brinkley retains his place in an unchanged line-up.

"Simon is taking a bit longer than expected to recover fully," said skipper Jon Lewis.

"We need to make sure we get him right. It would be silly to rush him back and aggravate it as there is a long season ahead and he will have plenty of bowling."

Brown has had a few gentle work-outs in the nets and it is hoped he will be ready, if required, for the Benson & Hedges campaign, which involves five matches in seven days starting against Lancashire at Liverpool next Tuesday.

Durham visit Derbyshire the following day, then are at home to Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire on the Friday and Saturday and play Yorkshire at Headingley on Monday, May 7.

Wicketkeeper Martin Speight, who missed the Gloucestershire match with a neck injury, is testing his fitness in the second team match against Nottinghamshire, which started at the Riverside yesterday.

Durham will not be up against their old team-mate John Morris at Trent Bridge as he is out until the end of May following a back operation.

He scored half-centuries in both National League meetings between the counties last season, but will not have the opportunity to repeat that as Nottinghamshire won promotion in the one-day league.

They also without their captain Jason Gallian because of injury and will be led by former Surrey opener Darren Bicknell.

Their overseas player this season is Australian Greg Blewett, who has something to prove after having a lean time with Yorkshire two years ago.

He made 98 and 190 against Northamptonshire at Scarborough, but managed only one other half-century in 23 first-class innings.

Nottinghamshire have also signed two English-qualified players from manager Clive Rice's homeland, South Africa, and both are in the team.

Rice rates 29-year-old Greg Smith, a left-arm seamer from Northern Transvaal, as a very exciting cricketer and has also included 20-year-old off-spinning all-rounder Kevin Pietersen, from KwaZulu Natal.

If Pietersen does play it is likely that former Yorkshire left-armer Richard Stemp will be the one to step down.

Durham: J J B Lewis (capt), M A Gough, M L Love, J A Daley, P D Collingwood, N J Speak, D R Law, A Pratt, N Killeen, J E Brinkley, S J Harmison, N C Phillips.

Nottinghamshire: D J Bicknell (capt), G E Welton, G S Blewett, U Afzaal, P Johnson, K Pietersen, C M W Read, P J Franks, G J Smith, R J Logan, G Clough, R D Stemp.