Chris Adams is still playing down Sussex's chances of landing their first ever Championship.

The county can close the gap behind leaders Surrey to a handful of points with victory over Leicestershire at Grace Road, starting tomorrow (11am).

But Adams maintains that Adam Hollioake's men remain favourites to win a fourth title in five years despite leading his side to a fifth win out of eight against Essex at Arundel on Saturday.

Jason Lewry completed his best bowling performance for two years before Tony Cottey (98) and Tim Ambrose (93 not out) guided the county to a six-wicket victory with 25 balls to spare.

It put Sussex 25 points clear of third placed Lancashire but still 26 behind Surrey who also won for the fifth time this season against Warwickshire. The top two meet at Hove on July 30.

Adams said: "Our supporters are starting to think about us winning titles but I still strongly believe that Surrey will win the Championship because they are a great side with such strength in depth.

"But if we can stay with them in the second half then we are going to have a great season wherever we finish. At the moment we are playing at a consistently high level that not too many other sides can match and there's no reason why it shouldn't continue.

"We have this self-belief at the moment that we are going to win every game and, from a captaincy point of view, this is as good as it gets.

"I'm enjoying the tactical challenge but I know that any success we achieve will be a shared effort by all of us."

Sussex may change the team which has won their last three games tomorrow. Grace Road normally favours the seamers so Kevin Innes could get the nod ahead of off-spinner Mark Davis.

Adams will make sure his team do not underestimate a Leicestershire side who are bottom of Division One.

He added: "They may be struggling, but they are one of three counties who have never been out of Division One. It's been a tough time for them but they will come good and we have to make sure we treat them with respect and concentrate on what we are doing.

"If we do that I expect us to produce another good performance."

Sussex can claim a place in the semi-finals of the 2nd XI Trophy with victory over Essex at Eastbourne today (10.45am).

Sussex (v Leicestershire): Montgomerie, Goodwin, Cottey, Adams, Ambrose, Martin-Jenkins, Prior, Davis or Innes, Mushtaq, Kirtley, Lewry.

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