Three Durham players were set to make their Frizzell County Championship debuts in the four-day match with Worcestershire at New Road, due to begin today.
Kiwi Test opener Nathan Astle - drafted in to replace captain Mike Hussey who is on international duty with Australia - and Aussie all-rounder Ashley Noffke looked certain to start in the Midlands.
They could be joined by Durham Development player Mark Turner, who was included in coach Martyn Moxon's 13-man squad and would make his 2005 first-team debut if selected.
Dale Benkenstein took over the captaincy from Hussey while off-spinner Graeme Bridge returned to the squad after his absence from the last Championship line-up.
Durham were looking to build on a superb start to their championship season which has yielded five wins and a draw from six matches.
DURHAM (from): Nathan Astle, Jon Lewis, Nicky Peng, Paul Collingwood, Dale Benkenstein (capt), Gordon Muchall, Gareth Breese, Philip Mustard (wkt), Ashley Noffke, Liam Plunkett, Mark Davies, Mark Turner, Graeme Bridge.
