Captain Chris Adams admits the first decision he makes at Egbaston tomorrow could be the most important.

Adams believes winning the toss and batting first is crucial to Sussex's hopes of ending their Edgbaston misery.

Chris Nash, who will bat at three for Sussex, was not even born and Matt Prior was only four months old when the county last beat Warwickshire there in the Championship in 1982.

They have been back 16 times since and not won and have lost on three of their last four visits when Warwickshire have won the toss and batted first on each occasion.

Adams admitted: "It's a bit of a bogey ground for us. It's a difficult place to bat last on. If you can bat first and get a score on the board, which we have done before, then you're in a good position.

"The bounce there gets unpredictable on the last day so even chasing 150 can be difficult."

Under Adams, Sussex have lost five and drawn the other three of their visits to Birmingham.

And even when Adams has called correctly things have not necessarily gone to plan.

In 2002, he put Warwickshire in and Sussex still lost by 208 runs after they were bowled out for 192 and in 1999 Sussex were shot out for 99 after Adams won the toss and Warwickshire won in two days, a defeat which meant Sussex started the two-divisional Championship in the lower tier.

The indications from their opening match against Lancashire is that Edgbaston looks full of runs and this is the earliest in the season Sussex have played there under Adams.

And the county head to Birmingham with plenty of confidence after an eight-wicket win over Kent in the first match of their title defence at Hove last week.

Adams said: "We will stick to what we know best which is patience and discipline and trying to achieve those targets we set ourselves in every game - to bowl sides out for under 300 and get at least 350 on the board ourselves. We are not looking any further than the first session."

Sussex's winning start will have raised expectation levels around Hove even more although there are areas where Adams would expect his side to improve, especially when his bowlers Mushtaq Ahmed, Jason Lewry and Rana Naved get more overs under their belts.

But they are also having to deal with the fact that opponents have tended to raise their game against Sussex in recent years.

"We have to be aware that because we have raised the bar in terms of our own performances and achievements it can motivate the opposition as well," he added.

"No side lays down and dies anymore. You can expect more instances like Kent's last-wicket stand on Friday. Teams are trying harder against us."