NICKY Peng is back in the Durham squad for the match against Essex, starting at Southend's Garons Park today, but he may have to stand down for Paul Collingwood.

Peng could be considered unlucky to be left out on the good batting pitches at Derby and Taunton, but with a top score of 39 in 11 championship innings this season he could have few complaints.

He desperately needs an opportunity to prove himself away from Riverside, and Durham might consider altering the balance of the team to accommodate him.

After playing with four seamers at Derby and Taunton, they have also added Gavin Hamilton to the squad purely as a batsman following his mid-season decision to give up trying to rediscover his bowling form.

As the ground has not been used before for first-class cricket, Durham have little idea what to expect, although coach Martyn Moxon said: "I'm sure the pitch will take spin.

"Unfortunately, we haven't been able to bring Graeme Bridge with us as he's not fit. It's been a very frustrating season for him. He saw the specialist again yesterday and is going for another scan."

Gary Scott will be fit to bowl his off spin after straining a hamstring and being unable to field on the last day at Taunton.

Moxon added: "Being a club ground it might also help the seamers, so we are covering all bases. We also have the option to nominate a player to stand down if Paul Collingwood is released by England.

"It all seems to hinge on the weather in Birmingham. If it's hot and sunny he might not play, but if it's cloudy he probably will."

Durham are expecting the results of Ashley Noffke's latest scan today, but unless he is fit for the Yorkshire match at Scarborough in three weeks they will continue to look for a replacement for the last three games.

Durham beat Essex by an innings and 19 runs at Riverside in May, but the visitors were short of bowling at the time, as well as being without skipper Ronnie Irani.

With Darren Gough and Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria strengthening their attack, fourth-placed Essex look more likely than Worcestershire to force their way among the northern trio currently making up the top three.

But as Durham are 37 points ahead of them, there would be no need to panic even if they lost this match.

Durham from: M E K Hussey (capt), G M Scott, G J Muchall, D M Benkenstein, N Peng, G M Hamilton, G R Breese, P Mustard, L E Plunkett, M Davies, M L Lewis, G Onions (plus P D Collingwood if released by England).

Read more about Durham here.