Sussex are relishing tomorrow's return to Championship action and their battle to overhaul title favourites Surrey.

The county face Essex at Arundel (11am) lying second in Division One, 26 points behind the reigning champions but four clear of third-placed Lancashire.

And although no one at Hove is talking in terms of a genuine challenge for the big prize just yet, Director of Cricket Peter Moores believes his players will relish the challenges which lie ahead in the second half of the season.

He said: "I don't think it's a coincidence that we have started to play good one-day cricket again on the back of some excellent performances in the Championship.

"Playing well in whatever form of the game breeds confidence and you can tell at the moment that the boys are buzzing and really looking forward to each game.

"But we're not even halfway through our Championship programme yet. There is a lot of cricket still to be played and we can't afford to let slip the standards we have set ourselves in the last few weeks."

Sussex are expected to name the same team which beat Warwickshire inside three days to record their fourth Championship win of the season ten days ago.

And their players will surely enjoy the opportunity to impress England captain Nasser Hussain who will play his last Championship game before the start of the Test series against South Africa on July 24.

Sussex II qualified for the semi-finals of the One Day Trophy after beating MCC Young Pros by six wickets. Carl Hopkinson hit an undefeated 132 to steer the county to victory.

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