Sussex captain Chris Adams today urged his side to relish the opportunity of making history.

The county are on the verge of claiming their first Championship title with three matches remaining, starting against Middlesex at Hove today.

They have a game in hand on leaders Surrey who stretched their advantage at the top to two points after the first day of their penultimate game against Kent at Canterbury yesterday.

The bookies have made Sussex favourites and Adams believes his players will revel in the pressure of the run-in rather than fear it.

He said: "We've had a two-week break from Championship cricket which is just what the boys have needed. They had three days off which is unusual at this time of the year but they are refreshed and looking forward to the challenge.

"If there is any pressure we're not feeling it, everyone looks very relaxed and we're enjoying the prospect of making history.

"There could be some at Old Trafford next week because we might go there knowing exactly what we need to do to win the Championship, but all we're doing now is concentrating on hitting Middlesex hard."

Sussex stick with the side which beat Essex inside three days in their last game, their eighth Championship win of the season which is two more than Surrey.

Sussex: Montgomerie, Goodwin, Cottey, Adams, Ambrose, Martin-Jenkins, Prior, Davis, Mushtaq Ahmed, Lewry, Taylor.

Middlesex (from): Strauss, Koenig, Shah, Hutton, Joyce, Weekes, Nash, Dalrymple, Cook, Keegan, Dawes, Peploe.

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