DURHAM won the toss and decided to bat on a blustery morning at Chester-le-Street this morning.

The Riversiders will be desperate for four days of good weather as they look to clinch their third County Championship title in four years.

The early-morning rain had long since gone by the time the captains tossed up, although severe winds could prove problematic for the fielders, with forecasters predicting they could get as high as 75 mph today.

That will be Worcestershire's problem first thing as they look to claim the points which will keep them in Division One next season. The Pears need a point to finish above Yorkshire. They currently have a 17-point cushion over Hampshire who, unlike the Tykes, play today.

The equation is more problematic for Durham in this final game of the season. They must win and hope Lancashire and Warwickshire do not, in which case the destination of the trophy will boil down to the bonus points each side gets this week.

Lancashire are at Somerset, while Warwickshire are in Hampshire.

Durham are unchanged from the side who ended a four-match winless streak with a comprehensive victory at Sussex. Michael Di Venuto has recovered from the elbow injury which kept him out of the CB40 semi-final, and will open.

Overseas star Kemar Roach and the in-form Alan Richardson are expected to take the new ball for the visitors.

For a full report of the opening day's play, see Tuesday's Journal.

DURHAM: Di Venuto, Smith, Stoneman, Collingwood, Benkenstein, Blackwell, Mustard (c/wk), Borthwick, Thorp, Claydon, Onions.

WORCESTERSHIRE: Mitchell, Cameron, Solanki, Ali, Kervezee, Pardoe, Andrew, Scott (wk), Jones, Roach, Richardson.

Umpires: Jeff Evans and Trevor Jesty