Skipper Chris Adams believes Sussex can mount another title challenge by making the most of Hove advantage.

Only four of the last 18 Championship games at their headquarters, stretching back to 2001, have ended in stalemate.

And although Sussex have lost five of the other 14 matches, skipper Adams believes the current side are capable of turning over any side in their own back yard, starting against Middlesex tomorrow (11am).

Grounds manager Derek Traill was asked by the squad at the start of the season to prepare pitches on which batsmen who apply themselves can score runs but which keep bowlers in the game. In other words, good cricket wickets.

So far he has been as good as his word. There would have been a positive result in the opener against Hampshire had it not been for rain on the last day while Sussex thrashed champions Warwickshire by an innings with four sessions to spare after scoring over 400 in their first innings last time out.

The days when batsmen looked forward to filling their boots at Hove while bowlers shuddered at the prospect of four days of hard labour are distant memories and Adams is happy about that.

He said: "Our players are very confident they know what it takes to win here. I think the overview around the country is still that wickets at Hove are flat and great for batting on.

"To a certain extent that is still true, but you need to graft and show a lot of patience.

"Guys like myself, Murray Goodwin and Matt Prior can't go in and blaze away in the old-fashioned way. It's helped us mature as a side I think because you have to be patient. Against Warwickshire we got 400, but it took us 166 overs.

"On cricket wickets like the ones we have at Hove I would back us against anyone if we are on our game."

The squad had four days off after last Wednesday's C&G Trophy win over Nottinghamshire but they were back at work yesterday with a full day of training.

Adams is anxious that they maintain the momentum which brought them five wins in all cricket in the space of 13 days. "Our performance in the last Championship game was almost perfect," he added. "There is always a danger when you've had some time off that you struggle to hit your straps again. But in a month's time we will be grateful for the chance we've had to recharge the batteries."

Sussex II start a three-day match against Somerset in Taunton tomorrow.