Yorkshire may have secured the trophy, but there is still plenty to play for in a fresh round of CricInfo Championship games.

2000 Champions, Surrey, entertain 2001 Champions, Yorkshire, in a game the London club will be anxious to win. They are just seven points above the relegation zone (three teams go down) and face a startling decline after the success of recent years.

Yorkshire coach Wayne Clark told CricInfo there would be "no let up" from his team, though several young players are being given an opportunity to impress. Gavin Hamilton and Ryan Sidebottom both have minor injuries, joining Darren Gough and Craig White as spectators. Simon Guy comes in for Richard Blakey, while 20-year-old Chris Taylor plays just his second first-class game.

Club captain David Byas admits that he'd like to see Surrey relegated, as he knows that they could be a major threat next season when Yorkshire seek to defend their success.

"It gives us one more reason to beat them - if we can win and send them down," Byas said. "We won't be taking any prisoners just as I'm sure they wouldn't.

"We are stretched again - we haven't been able to pick the same side twice this season - but the teams we have put out have played very well and we don't want to ease up now."

Surrey, however, are boosted by a close to full strength side. Only Thorpe is absent from a 12-man squad that includes Ian Salisbury and Saqlain Mushtaq, though a decision on whether both play will be made in the morning.

"It's a huge game for us," admits spokesman Toby Coddrington. "But it's also an opportunity for us to show people what we are capable of. If we can beat the side that have proved themselves the best team this season then it will send out a strong message."

"We have got to make sure we stay in the top division," Coach Alan Butcher conceded.

"I am sure there are some people out there who would love to see us go down, but we are reasonably confident that we will be able to get enough points and be able to compete for the championship next year."

Somerset, chasing the highest placing in their history, travel to doomed Essex. Buoyed by their C & G success on Saturday, Somerset will be aiming for a fifth win of the season to secure second place while Essex seek to restore some fallen pride.

Kent and Northants contest another crucial game at Canterbury. Northants need a win to propel them out of the bottom three, while Kent are poised in third place, just four points behind Somerset.

In Division Two, Hampshire host Middlesex in a game that could determine one of the promotion positions. The teams are currently in second and third place respectively, and while a win would all but assure Hampshire of Division One cricket next season, a slip up by either side could let in Warwickshire.

Middlesex captain, Angus Fraser, admitted that it is an important game, but expressed his delight at the teams' progress this season.

"It has been a stunning season following what happened in the winter," Fraser said. "We'd have just settled for progress but having topped the table earlier in the summer, it would be disappointing to miss out on promotion now.

"Although we have stuttered a little we have been playing some good stuff and it would be nice to finish it off. We've got two important games left.

Hampshire have included left-handed batsman John Francis in their squad. The Loughborough student could make his first-class debut in the game, having hit a match-winning 78 against Worcestershire in just his second NUL appearance, and 107 against Leicestershire for Loughborough UCCE.

"We have no major injury worries going into this vital match," Hampshire's Director of Cricket, Tim Tremlett, told CricInfo.

Gloucestershire, too, still harbour outside hopes of promotion. They have every opportunity to win, playing against lowly Derbyshire, who are adrift at the bottom of the table.

Elsewhere, Durham and Worcestershire meet at Chester-le-Street with little more than pride at stake as both sides complete disappointing seasons.

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