DURHAM are to ask the world's leading Test wicket-taker, Courtney Walsh, to have a chat with Steve Harmison.

Walsh is expected to be with the West Indies squad for the two one-day internationals at Chester-le-Street this weekend and Durham are leaving Harmison at home for two weeks' rest.

He limped off with a recurrence of his shin trouble at Headingley on Monday, and apart from resting his injury Durham want him to think about how he can get back to last season's form.

"He will have a look at some tapes of his action and see where he is now compared with last season," said skipper Nick Speak.

"He bowls in a similar style to Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose, and it must be worth a try to get Courtney to speak to him, especially as he's one of Steve's heroes.

"He's a good guy and if he's got half an hour to spare I'm sure he'll do it."

After being in the England squad for the first three Tests of the summer, without getting a game, Harmison was left out for the match at Lord's two weeks ago when Durham feared he had a stress fracture of the left shin.

A scan revealed no damage and he returned to action before the Test started, prompting reports that England were unhappy with Durham for pulling him out.

But his recent form has been nowhere near international standard and it would clearly have been a gamble fitness-wise to select him for a five-day Test.

Harmison is replaced by John Wood in Durham's squad for the match against Leicestershire starting at Grace Road today, and Jimmy Daley is recalled in place of Michael Gough. Off-spinner Nicky Phillips also makes the trip.

If Phillips plays it could be at the expense of Neil Killeen, who has lost some of his zip since taking seven for 85 in Leicestershire's first innings in the final match of last season.

It was by taking ten points from the draw at Grace Road that Durham clinched their place in division one and they are currently sixth, one place and ten points behind their hosts.

They can expect no favours over the next few days as Leicestershire left the Riverside in a huff two months ago.

With only two hours' play possible on the final day in a rain-ruined match, they were unhappy that Durham declared on 302 for eight, denying them the chance of a third bowling point.

Daley did well as an opener in the second half of last season, but like most people he struggled on the damp early-season pitches this year and was averaging 10.5 from nine innings when Durham left him out.

He will open in preference to Muazam Ali, who is likely to get another chance at No 6 to open his first-class account after lasting only three balls in two innings so far.

Gough, meanwhile, is still in Leeds General Infirmary and it is hoped the results of his tests will be available today.

Durham (from): N J Speak (capt), J J B Lewis, J A Daley, S M Katich, P D Collingwood, S M Ali, M P Speight, M M Betts, J Wood, N Killeen, S J E Brown, N C Phillips.

THE England v West Indies match at the Riverside on Saturday is a sell-out, but there are still plenty of tickets available for the West Indies v Zimbabwe match the following day. Anyone interested should ring 0191 387 1717.