Yorkshire begin a fresh round of CricInfo Championship in pole position to secure the premier domestic competition for the first time since 1968.

The club currently has a lead of 14 points and a game in hand. Having just completed a seven-wicket win over strong rivals Lancashire, they now face another tough challenge from reigning champions Surrey.

"We got a good result against Lancashire but that's in the past now," Arnie Sidebottom, their coach admitted. "We've still got three difficult away matches to come but if we can win our home games and get a couple of wins away we'll be almost there."

"It was a belting wicket against Lancashire and Darren Lehmann was absolutely superb, but that is finished now. We've got Surrey next and it's another big game.

"The ball is in our court but we're not getting too excited yet because we have been close before and blown up at the final stages.

"We've now got a bit more strength in depth though. Darren Gough and Craig White are out this time but we have some good young players to come in."

Surrey are some distance below full strength – with five players on England duty and Graham Thorpe sidelined through injury. Adam Hollioake, Ali Brown and Martin Bicknell are all injury doubts too.

They have only won two games all season but are the only side to remain unbeaten and boast great depth in strength.

Somerset are currently second and now travel to Kent. They were briefly top of the table after their crushing three-day win over Glamorgan but will be without Test stars Caddick and Trescothick for this game.

"Obviously to win in three days was great and it is always nice to get the total points." Somerset captain, Jamie Cox said. "It's a nice situation to be at the top when you win but the pressure is on and there are other teams around us."

Somerset have happy memories of Canterbury. They beat Kent in the quarter-final of the C&G Trophy last week and Cox was impressed by the picturesque ground.

"Last week was the first time I had ever been to Canterbury and I thought it was quite a quaint little spot. We're looking forward to going back," he said.

But Kent are only one place below Somerset and fresh from an excellent victory over Leicestershire.

Glamorgan will be without captain Steve James for the rest of the season following the broken hand he sustained when facing Andy Caddick. Adrian Dale will take over the captaincy as his team entertain a Lancashire waiting on a Neil Fairbrother fitness test, at Colwyn Bay.

Bottom club Essex are facing relegation. They desperately need a win from their encounter with fourth placed Leicestershire at Chelmsford.

In the Second Division Hampshire are the opposition for Gloucestershire as the Cheltenham Festival continues. They will have been boosted by their remarkable victory over the touring Australians but keen to restart their promotion challenge. They are currently third, with a game in hand, while Gloucestershire, in fifth place, need a win to sustain their challenge.

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