Surrey v Kent

THE top two sides in the Friends Provident Trophy southern conference go head-to-head in the long form of the game today with the scheduled start to Kent's four-day clash with Surrey at Whitgift School in Croydon.

Though both counties look likely to qualify for the Trophy semi-finals, they are struggling toward the foot of the LV Championship first division having only picked up one win between them.

Kent lie seventh in the table with 39 points by virtue of their sole win over Sussex, while Surrey are eighth with 37 points and without a success from their five starts to date.

In former England man Mark Ramprakash, Surrey have one of the most consistent batsmen in the domestic game and it is largely down to his good start to the season that the brown caps have already posted 16 batting bonus points - some five more than Kent.

Fresh from centuries in his last two championship matches, Kent skipper Rob Key will look to continue his good form and will also hope to name an unchanged side to that which drew with Hampshire on Saturday.

Key has Robbie Joseph fit again after the pace bowler's recovery from a split ear, the legacy of a Steve Harmison bouncer during Kent's defeat to Durham, but Key is likely to resist the temptation to change.

Simon Cook, the seamer who came in for Joseph against Hampshire, sent down 13 overs for as many runs in the second innings of that game and his ability to tie up one end coupled with his three wickets in the match should ensure his extended stay in the side.

Kent from: Key, Denly, van Jaarsveld, Walker, Stevens, Jones, Hall, Arafat, McLaren, Tredwell, Cook, Joseph.