Glamorgan have been inserted, and get off to an uncertain start as Sam Northeast is rapped on the pads by Ollie Robinson.

These two sides have faced off four times already this season (twice in the T20 Blast and once in the One Day Cup and Championship).

The results? Glamorgan win, Glamorgan win, Glamorgan win and a Glamorgan win!

And we're away in most of our games.

It's raining at Chester-le-Street.

Also a delay at Kent, but they're now inspecting there, and Essex but hopefully it won't be too long.

Middlesex begin their 12th round match just one point ahead of Yorkshire in second place and will hope to retain their impressive momentum in the last two Championship rounds.

The county attack forced a last day collapse to beat Northants convincingly at Merchant Taylors' School in late August and batted with great resilience to hold Yorkshire to a draw at Headingley last week.

Gloucestershire are sixth in the table, eight points ahead of Northants on 119 and will hope for more longevity in this game, after their home fixture against Northants in the last round was abandoned on Day One due to safety concerns about the pitch.

Luke Procter calls correctly and decides to bat.

Northants were frustrated at Derby way back in May when Zak Chappell scored a brilliant counter-attacking 72 and forced a draw from a precarious 149-7.

They finished on 257-9.

Northants make two changes from the last round with Ben Sanderson and Saif Zaib coming in for Ricardo Vasconcelos and George Bartlett.

Derbyshire bring in Martin Andersson, Alex Thomson and Harry Moore in place of Anuj Dal, Daryn Dupavillon and Pat Brown.

Image source, Rex Features

Sussex are having a year to remember. They reached the T20 Blast Finals Day this week, which came on the back of thrashing Derbyshire by an innings in the last Championship round.

And they can take another giant leap towards ending their decade outside of Division One by beating Glamorgan at Hove this week.

While Sussex's 19-point lead (with 72 to play for) is on track to become unassailable, the battle for the second promotion spot is hotting up.

Only one point splits Middlesex and Yorkshire. Leicestershire - who also still have a slim chance of going up - hosts the Yorkies, while the Londoners host Gloucestershire.

Lancashire begin their away game against seventh-placed Durham second from bottom in the table, 10 points behind eighth-placed Notts - who face a tricky assignment against Essex at Chelmsford.

Red Rose debuts are likely for at least one of two pace bowlers among Anderson Phillip (of West Indies and Trinidad) and Mitch Stanley, formerly of Worcestershire.

The county have struggled in the last couple of rounds with innings defeats at home against Hampshire and against leaders Surrey at the Oval.

However, the Red Rose may take a little confidence from their home match against today's opposition back in May when they beat Durham by 60 runs.

Lancashire captain Keaton Jennings scored a century in each innings of that game and given his form, his performance against the new ball will be critical to his team's prospects in this match.

Image source, Rex Features

With three games remaining, Surrey have a 24-point lead over Somerset at the top of the table and a 37-point advantage over Hampshire in third.

Last week's draw at Notts kept the title race interesting but if the Brown Caps can take out their nearest challengers over the next four days, they'll have one hand on another Championship.

Eight of their squad are away with England's Test or one-day sides, so they've brought in Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan.

The dream of a maiden Championship still burns for Somerset. They've signed New Zealander bowler Brett Randell for these final three games.

Somerset have won the toss and have chosen to bat first.

• Leicestershire v Yorkshire - Yorkshire chose to field
• Middlesex v Gloucestershire - Gloucestershire chose to field
• Northamptonshire v Derbyshire - Northamptonshire chose to bat
• Sussex v Glamorgan - Sussex chose to field

• Durham v Lancashire - toss delayed
• Essex v Nottinghamshire - Notts won the toss and will bowl
• Kent v Hampshire - toss delayed
• Somerset v Surrey - Somerset won toss and will bat
• Worcestershire v Warwickshire - Warks won the toss and will field

Plenty to play for in the race for promotion to the top flight.

Sussex are in pole position and look favourites to occupy one of the two promotion places. They host Glamorgan this week.

But it's far from a done deal - and there's a massive game between third-placed Yorkshire and fourth-placed Leicestershire that's a virtual eliminator.

The Division One table underlines how huge a game Taunton will host these next four days.

A Surrey win almost guarantees them another title but a Somerset victory throws things wide open.

Essex and Hampshire remain in the hunt but in firmly must-win territory.

At the other end of the table, Kent look doomed unless they win all three of their remaining games, while there's a huge match at Chester-le-Street between Durham and Lancashire.

Good morning.

Only three rounds of the 2024 County Championship remain.

And this week's fixtures have a real key feel about them.

We'll know much more about the likely destination of titles, relegations and promotions come Thursday.

Not least after a mouth-watering clash between Division One's top two Somerset and Surrey - so let's dive right in, shall we?