What's at stake during County Championship finale?

Lancashire ended Somerset's title hopes at Old Trafford last week

Surrey have been confirmed as 2024 county champions, Kent relegated from Division One and Sussex promoted to take their place next season.

But there is still one round of fixtures to go in this summer's Championship, so what's at stake during this week's final nine games?

Despite a victory which ended Somerset's title hopes, Lancashire still have a lot of work to do to avoid dropping into the second tier for the first time since 2018.

They travel to New Road to take on Worcestershire with 15 points to make up on Nottinghamshire, who are third from bottom.

But Warwickshire - who are seventh - could yet be vulnerable if they repeat the performance which resulted in them losing in two days to Essex last week.

"It wasn't how we wanted to play our last home game of the season in front of our own supporters," Warwickshire head coach Mark Robinson told BBC WM.

"So there is a lot of hurt in the dressing room and feelings of letting people down. We just have to gather ourselves, dust down and get ready."

The Bears need at least five points from their game against Notts at Trent Bridge to be absolutely sure Lancashire cannot leapfrog them, even if the Red Rose manage a maximum 24 against Worcestershire.

Meanwhile, nearer the top of the table, third-placed Somerset must put their disappointment aside as they host Hampshire, who are two points ahead of them, with a sizeable runners-up cheque at stake.

In Division Two, Sussex only need five points from their home game against Middlesex to be confirmed as champions.

But Middlesex, who beat Derbyshire by an innings and 66 runs last week with skipper Toby Roland-Jones taking 10 wickets in the game, have every possible incentive to put on another good show at Hove.

Middlesex are in third place and must somehow turn around a 15-point deficit, if they are to pip Yorkshire - who host Northamptonshire - to the second promotion spot.

"Fitness wise, I've felt really good coming into this last stretch," 36-year-old Roland-Jones said.

"Playing a bit less cricket during those white-ball spells has helped to make sure I'm fresh for the red-ball stuff.

"We'll go to Hove looking to do what we have done all season, which is to do what we can to win the game."

Yorkshire are still waiting to hear whether skipper Shan Masood will be able to return from Pakistan in time for Thursday's game, which would be his first Championship appearance for the Tykes since June.

"Everything that we wanted to do at the start of the year is still in our hands," head coach Ottis Gibson told BBC West Yorkshire Sport.

BBC Sport will have full radio and text coverage of all nine games in the final round of this year's County Championship, from 26-29 September.