Leg spinner Umer Rashid, who had a wisdom tooth removed yesterday, has been left out and Raj Rao will bat at No 6.

Coach Peter Moores has already hinted that Sussex may use an extra specialist batsman early in the season, when conditions are less helpful to the slower bowlers, and this could be the side which faces Lancashire at Old Trafford in the Championship opener next Tuesday.

Rao, who played in ten Championship games last season including the last seven, has been working on his leg spin during the winter and has impressed in the nets, so he does give Sussex another bowling option.

Wasim Khan appears to have won the battle with Toby Peirce to be Richard Montgomerie's opening partner while Michael Di Venuto will bat at No 4.

Mark Robinson has recovered from minor knee surgery to play his first competitive game of the season while Alex Edwards gets a chance to stake a claim in the absence of the injured Jason Lewry who has pencilled in the home game with Gloucestershire on May 19 for his comeback.

The match is scheduled to last four days, but Moores may ask Durham to play over three with a one-day match on Saturday.

"If we do that it will give us the chance to perm another side and give as many of the lads as possible a bit of competitive practice," he said.

Sussex: Montgomerie, Khan, Adams, Di Venuto, Cottey, Rao, Martin-Jenkins, Edwards, Humphries, Kirtley, Robinson. 12th man: Bates.

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