Kent's proud eight-year record of being the only county never to have played LV Championship cricket outside the top division hangs in the balance from Wednesday when they take on title-chasing Durham in their final game of the season in Canterbury.

Having suffered a crushing 70-run defeat at the hands of Lancashire in Liverpool on Friday, Rob Key’s men not only missed out on their own title aspirations, but also allowed themselves to be dragged back into the relegation mire.

Instead of moving into the top three, Kent will now go into the final match of the campaign in sixth place, only four points clear of Yorkshire who occupy the second relegation slot above basement side Surrey.

Looking ahead to the critical game, skipper Key said: "There's a lot more riding on the last game now. It can sometimes be hard after a long season to lift the guys for one last match but now we have no choice, we've got to pick ourselves up.

"If we'd won this (the Lancashire game in Liverpool) we were challenging for the title but unfortunately we've lost and now we're at the wrong end.

"It's been a crazy season but you want pressure games throughout the summer."

Kent will give fitness tests to Justin Kemp and Darren Stevens ahead of the game, the top-order batsmen are still suffering from long-term back and groin problems respectively.

Experienced all-rounder Azhar Mahmood may yet feature if he can shake off persistent knee troubles, while Martin Saggers and Simon Cook may also force their way back into contention after an indifferent display by the Kent seam attack in Aigburth.

Kent will be keen to avenge their controversial defeat to Durham in Chester-le-Street in August where, despite and ECB pitch panel and much to Key’s chagrin, the seamer-friendly Riverside wicket escaped censure.

Durham go into the game third in the table, 10 runs shy of leaders and championship favourites Nottinghamshire.

The game is scheduled for 10.30am starts each day.