DURHAM expect to have Graham Onions back for the four-day match against champions Sussex at Hove, starting on Friday.

The England Lions seamer missed the two Friends Provident Trophy ties at the weekend with a sore heel but should be fit for what could be a key battle in this season's title race.

Michael Di Venuto, who began his county career with one season at Sussex in 1999, also hopes a couple of days' rest will benefit his damaged finger.

He didn't take the field following his 138 against Derbyshire on Monday after getting hit on the finger he originally hurt when fielding in the slips against Yorkshire a fortnight ago.

"I've had a couple of jabs in it and I'll be okay," he said. "It may be cracked but there's nothing you can do about it. I'll grin and bear it."

Durham will be watching with interest to see whether Yorkshire relegate them into second place in the FPT's northern group by beating Lancashire at Headingley today.

The top teams in the four groups will be at home in next Wednesday's quarter-finals and an away tie could extend Durham's stay in the south, with the match at Hove scheduled to finish on Monday.

Kent and Gloucestershire look likely to win their groups, with the match between Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire deciding the Midlands group.

Former England players Usman Afzaal and Jonathan Trott have been disciplined by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Surrey batsman Afzaal received three penalty points for showing dissent at an umpiring decision during the LV County Championship match against Yorkshire last week.

Warwickshire's Trott was reprimanded for a level one breach of the code - using language that is obscene, offensive or insulting.