Durham v Worcestershire (Chester-le-Street)
In Sheriyar and Harmison, these counties both possess bowlers of extreme pace but limited accuracy. But the performer likely to stand out with the ball in this encounter is Worcestershire's Kabir Ali, who has started the season with a bang. Andy Bichel (missing on international duty) and new signing Gareth Batty have given Worcestershire, normally thought of as a batting side, the ability to bowl sides out. By contrast Durham in their last two games have demonstrated the ability to build totals.

Unusually this week, the further north you go the less the Met Office expects rain or cloud. So Worcestershire's excellent batting side, and the miraculously reborn home batsmen should have plenty of chances to shine.

Essex v Northamptonshire (Ilford)
Ilford's Valentine's Park provides a pleasant setting for this match between Ronnie Irani's promotion hunters and Northants. Leading wicket-taker Carl Greenidge returns from injury, and the East London cloud could have a major part to play.

Essex will be hoping to repeat their round six victory, when they did well then to roll over Northants for 155 in their second innings. The keys to the victory then were the all-round performances of Irani, Stephenson and James Middlebrook (released last season by Yorkshire due to the county's poor financial position and doubtless sorely missed) and two excellent innings by Andy Flower.

The visitors need to take their wickets quicker and more cheaply, and to eliminate the batting collapses that have characterised their season. Pitching up for only one innings in two is not enough – especially if your wickets cost fifty runs apiece.

Middlesex v Glamorgan (Lord's)
Glamorgan, averaging less than a batting point a game, will not be as grateful for the reasonable weather outlook as their hosts. Middlesex's bowling looked thin in their high-scoring draw against Durham, and their supporters will hope for the return of Ashley Noffke. But the cloudy conditions this week will make another pair of huge first innings totals unlikely.

Glamorgan have a poor record against the north London side, and after a poor batting start to the season may struggle in grey conditions at Lord's. This is the second of three county championship games taking place at the same time in London.

Nottinghamshire v Derbyshire (Nottingham)
Notts have registered two wins and two batting points in their previous home games, while leaders Derbyshire, again led by a Dominic Cork with something to prove, have managed 100% in a spring with freakishly large amounts of cricket being possible. The weather is expected to hold for this Notts Derby Derby (sic.) and therefore a result looks certain, with the guests surely odds-on the notch up a fifth victory.

Notts have registered just five individual totals in excess of 50 in four completed games. South Africa's Greg Smith and former Derbyshire medium-pacer Andy Harris have taken 34 wickets between them, at just 16 runs apiece.

For Derbyshire, the names of Michael Di Venuto and Dominic Cork dominate the averages and write-ups. Kevin Dean has also impressed with the ball - he and Cork have amassed the grand total of 54 wickets between them in just five games.

                          P   W  L  D  Bat Bowl Deduct Points
Derbyshire                5   4  1  0  12   15   1.00   74.00
Middlesex                 4   3  0  1  17   10   0.00   67.00
Essex                     5   3  1  1  13   14   0.50   66.50
Worcestershire            5   2  2  1  16   12   0.00   56.00
Gloucestershire           5   1  2  2   9   14   0.00   43.00
Glamorgan                 4   2  2  0   3   12   0.00   39.00
Nottinghamshire           4   2  2  0   2   12   0.50   37.50
Durham                    5   0  3  2  12   14   0.00   34.00
Northamptonshire          5   0  4  1  14   11   0.50   28.50