STEVE Harmison will join Durham on a pre-season trip to South Africa as he prepares to prove he remains worthy of an England Test place.

After the disappointment of the Ashes series, Harmison ruled himself out of the World Cup by retiring from one-day international cricket.

But Durham coach Martyn Moxon said: "He has been practising and training with us and is looking forward to the start of the season.

"He sees it as very similar to the start of the 2005 season, when he was coming back from injury and helped us win our first four games.

"He's very keen to be selected for this summer's Tests and wants to play for Durham first. He's committed to the cause."

After going to Sharjah for their pre-season preparations for the last two years, Durham are heading for Cape Town on March 22, returning on April 3. They will play two two-day games and four one-dayers and expect to be joined by skipper Dale Benkenstein, who has signed an extended contract and will be with Durham for a further three years.

Apart from World Cup pair Paul Collingwood and Liam Plunkett, only Tasmanian left-hander Michael Di Venuto, the new overseas man, will miss the South Africa trip, although a decision on Graham Onions awaits his return from the England A tour of Bangladesh.

Seamer Mark Davies will head for Cape Town ten days ahead of the rest to begin his outdoor work after plans for him to spend time in Perth this winter were shelved.

Davies broke down on his return from a stress fracture of the back in his only first team outing against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl last June.

"He has been bowling indoors since Christmas with no ill effects," said Moxon. "He's building up nicely, but we don't want him to do too much indoors, which is why he's going early to Cape Town."

There is a doubt about whether all-rounder Gary Scott will make the trip as he has been out of action since Christmas with back trouble.

A scan has revealed a slight bulge in a disc and Durham are awaiting further test results before deciding on a course of action.

Lancashire will also be in Cape Town and will play Durham in one of their two-day matches, while the sides will meet again in a two-day friendly at Old Trafford on April 11 and 12, a week before Durham start their championship programme at Worcester.

Those not at Old Trafford will play Durham University at Riverside over the same two days and Durham have also arranged a home one-day friendly against Yorkshire on April 13.