Durham Dynamos - promoted

Division One: Newly-promoted Durham Dynamos face their first test in the top flight by taking on Warwickshire Bears at Chester-le-Street. Durham's success in gaining promotion last season was somewhat unexpected, and all eyes will be on them to see if they can establish themselves in higher company.

One of their key players will be Paul Collingwood, who confirmed that he has a place in England's World Cup plans during the winter tours. Having said that, Durham's success last season was a result of a team effort. Contrary to earlier reports, Warwickshire have Shaun Pollock playing in the Norwich Union League this summer. His national employers were concerned about him being over-played before the World Cup, but this competition has not been singled out as one he must miss. In addition, in Nick Knight they have one of the most exciting one-day players in the country.

Darren Lehmann - Yorkshire Phoenix

One of the most exciting one-day players in the world will be in the Leicestershire Foxes team that plays Nottinghamshire Outlaws at Grace Road. Michael Bevan will be hoping that he can take his new county one step up the ladder from last season. Then they dominated until taking only two points from their last four matches to allow Kent Spitfires to take the title. Nottinghamshire Outlaws enjoyed the opposite last term - leaving it to the last day of the campaign to avoid relegation. The presence of Lance Klusener in a side run by Clive Rice should ensure they are competitive.

Somerset Sabres have shown they are a formidable one-day side, even without the likes of Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Caddick for much of the season. Captain Jamie Cox will be hoping his side get off to a good start in their first match against Yorkshire Phoenix at Taunton. Yorkshire also have an Australian in charge in the shape of Darren Lehmann, and there is no doubting he will want to see his team do better in this competition than they did last season when they narrowly avoided relegation.

John Crawley

In Division Two, Derbyshire Scorpions have proved to be one of the surprise packets of the season in the county championship, but it remains to be seen whether they can transfer that form into success in the Norwich Union League. Wooden-spoonists last time around, they meet a Sussex side in the opening round of matches. Sussex Sharks last season had a run of four wins in their last five matches to reach respectability, and their captain, Chris Adams, will be hoping to continue that form from the off this time around.

Hampshire Hawks missed promotion by just one place last time out. The recruitment of John Crawley from Lancashire Lightning and South African one-day international wicket-keeper/batsman Nic Pothas will not hamper their chances against a Gloucestershire Gladiators side whose one-day pedigree is a byword in the game. Nevertheless, that pedigree counted for little after the Division One title in 2000 was followed by relegation in 2001.

Surrey Lions against Lancashire Lightning at The Oval looks like a heavyweight contest - until you realise that these proud counties are both in Division Two. All their international strength has counted for little in the Norwich Union League as far as Surrey are concerned, while Lancashire will be looking to reproduce the sort of form that brought them back-to-back League titles in 1998 and 1999.

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