DESPITE the absence of Mark Wood, Durham's home match against Middlesex, starting tomorrow, will be of great interest to the England selectors.

Wood underwent his second ankle operation on Thursday, removing the opportunity to compare him with Steve Finn. But Mark Stoneman can do battle with Sam Robson, while much attention will focus on Ben Stokes.

The England all-rounder's only appearance for Durham last season was in a T20 match at home to Warwickshire, when his bowling came under fire from Ian Bell, who scored 90 in a seven-wicket win.

This is Stokes' first outing since receiving an even greater mauling in the final of the World T20 in India three weeks ago, but Durham coach Jon Lewis has no doubts he will rise to the occasion in the first of two appearances. He is also available for the trip to the Oval, starting next Sunday.

“Ben is a resilient character,” said Lewis. “He has spent a lot of time with us since coming back from India. It's a good environment for him to be in and he's very keen to play.”

Robson, who played in seven Tests in 2014, has thrust his name forward again for selection with innings of 231 and 106 against Warwickshire at Lord’s.

He eclipsed Middlesex's first-class match aggregate record in a game at Lord's of 319, set in 1893 by South Shields-born Andrew Stoddart, who is most famous for shooting himself after captaining England at cricket and rugby.

Robson, who totalled 21 runs in four innings against Durham in 2012 and 2013, has always stuggled at Riverside, where he made 14 and nought last season.

But he made his only century of the summer in amassing 178 against Durham at Lord's in the match in which both sides were routed in their second innings.

James Harris took nine for 34 as Durham were dismissed for 71 and followed his match haul of 13 by taking eight when Middlesex completed the double at Riverside on their way to runners-up spot.

With Tim Murtagh and Toby Roland-Jones supporting Finn and Harris, it will be no surprise if Middlesex dispense with the toss and exercise their right to bowl first.

They will be mindful, however, that when Durham batted first in the equivalent match two years ago Scott Borthwick made 216 and Stoneman 187.

Borthwick also scored 95 against Middlesex at Riverside last season and he is another player keen to impress the selectors.

Stokes will replace either Brydon Carse or Usman Arshad in the Durham team.

Although Carse's pace might add a raw cutting edge to the attack, his inclusion creates a long tail by modern standards. He batted at nine on his debut against Somerset and lasted only two balls.

Durham (from): P D Collingwood (capt), M D Stoneman, K K Jennings, S G Borthwick, B A Stokes, J T A Burnham, M J Richardson, R D Pringle, U Arshad, C Rushworth, G Onions, B Carse.