[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Three matches in the campaign have yielded three different results, all promising in their own way. A draw that should have been a win, a win that was wholly deserved, and a battling defeat that could have gone the other way with a little more luck: it bodes modestly well provided the Pears can keep the performances coming with bat and ball. Durham, on the other hand - fancying themselves for promotion after a strong showing in 2021 - have got off to a winless start with three draws and a defeat, and will need to get the ball rolling soon if they're to achieve the long-awaited return to the top flight.

Runs clearly aren't a problem for the Championship's most northerly side; Sean Dickson leads the way with 520, long-term England prospect David Bedingham is hot on his heels with 301, and South African international Keegan Petersen - named the player of the series when the Proteas bested India in January - is a new addition at number three behind England new boy Alex Lees. And of course, the ginger elephant in the room is new England skipper Ben Stokes, still waiting for his first Championship appearance since 2018 having opted out of this year's IPL, with his run-tally since Durham's 2016 relegation totalling just 12. If Stokes makes his county comeback at New Road this weekend then it would prove a welcome boost, as wicket-taking was a stumbing block for Durham in April: Matthew Potts, with 18 scalps at 22.33, has been largely carrying an attack deprived of the injured Brydon Carse, while Ben Raine and Chris Rushworth haven't had the impact with the new ball that would be expected. 23-year-old slow left-armer Liam Trevaskis, having taken 16 career wickets prior to 2022, is also making an impression with 7 so far this campaign.

After the slightly concerning batting display at Trent Bridge, albeit in savage conditions against a formidable attack, Worcestershire will want a swift improvement from the top order. Jake Libby hasn't quite been his carefree self through April, and although Ed Pollock has picked up a good deal of the slack, the former Warks man's aggressive style naturally tempts fate and demands a steady hand at the other end. At number three, though Azhar Ali came with limited expectations given his previous Championship average of 28, it's been an undistinguished cameo so far, and the Pakistani could do with getting a few dozen runs under his belt. With the weather touch-and-go but mostly fair in the next four days, we should expect a result in this crucial encounter.

Probable Worcestershire XI: Libby, Pollock, Azhar, Haynes, D'Oliveira, Barnard, Cox, Leach, Baker, Morris, Pennington