MARK Stoneman will have the difficult task of stepping into Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s sizeable shoes when Durham take on Lancashire at Blackpool today. Durham, second in the Liverpool Victoria County Championship and just 11.5 points off the top, need a win against fourth-placed Lancashire to maintain their title tilt, with leaders Yorkshire also taking on third-placed Sussex this week. Geoff Cook’s side will then take on Sussex at the Riverside in their last home game before travelling to Kent, although they will probably need to win all three if they are going to add the County Championship title to last month’s Friends Provident Trophy success at Lord’s. However, the side are still feeling the loss of West Indian star Chanderpaul, despite the comprehensive victory over Derbyshire in the Pro40 League on Tuesday. Cook failed in a bid to sign South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis last week as his replacement, but that has opened the door again for England Under-19 batsman Stoneman. “We tried putting Phil Mustard at the top of the order against Worcestershire because it was a must-win game, but I feel that is asking too much of him if we are going to do that all the time,” explained captain Dale Benkenstein. “Mark has come in and been pretty solid at the top of the order. He is a bit like Will Smith, he has got himself in on a number of occasions without going on to get a big score, but he has got us off to some good starts with Michael Di Venuto. This is another chance for him.” Like the rest of Durham’s youngsters, Benkenstein has also been impressed with Stoneman’s mental strength and he does not think he, or any other player, will be affected by nerves in Blackpool. He said: “I don’t sense any nerves, I think we all just see each game as another opportunity to show what a good team we are. There is a ruthless winning mentality in the dressing room, unrecognisable from when I arrived here three years ago. “We’ve almost won games too easily, certainly in one-day cricket, and it’s been really nice to hear some comments from umpires this season, people who have played and seen a lot of cricket, about how good this side is. I think Geoff has to take a lot of credit for the mental strength.” Benkenstein added: “We have a great blend of experienced guys who have been in this situation before and young players who are desperate to do well. They seem to be taking each test in their stride at the moment.” Spinner Paul Wiseman is expected to get the nod ahead of seamer Mark Davies. DURHAM at Lancashire (from): Michael Di Venuto, Mark Stoneman, Kyle Coetzer, Dale Benkenstein (capt), Gordon Muchall, Phil Mustard (wkt), Ben Harmison, Ottis Gibson, Liam Plunkett, Graham Onions, Mark Davies, Paul Wiseman. | 
