DOUG Bollinger is in line to make his debut when Worcestershire entertain Durham in their LV County Championship Division One curtain-raiser today (11am).

The Aussie left-armer, who was unable to play any part in last week's warm-up games against Essex at Chelmsford due to a hand infection, has recovered in time to be named in director of cricket Steve Rhodes' 12-man squad.

However, Matt Mason will play no part in the match as he continues his recuperation from a shoulder operation, so the seam-bowling duties will be split between Bollinger, Kabir Ali, Roger Sillence and Nadeem Malik.

Rhodes said: "We wanted to give Doug a chance to bowl at Chelmsford but he had an infection in his hand, so we decided not to risk him as we did not want to inflame the problem."

Bollinger's fellow new arrival at Worcestershire, Moeen Ali, misses out on the game but Rhodes said it was a tough call to leave the ex-Warwickshire batsman on the sidelines.

Rhodes said: "I would love to be able to name 13 players but I can't do that and, unfortunately for Moeen, he is the one who has missed out.

"There is no room for him at present but he has been batting really well in the nets and will continue to put pressure on the batsmen who have been picked."

The game also represents a chance for wicketkeeper Steven Davies to renew acquaintances with Durham's Steve Harmison and Graham Onions, both of whom he lined up alongside for the MCC against reigning county champions Sussex last week.

Although Durham are among the bookies' favourites for the drop, Rhodes insists there will be no easy games for his side in the top flight of English cricket.

He added: "All matches are going to be hard this season and Durham will have Steve Harmison back in the fold.

"He will be desperate to take wickets and get back into the England side.

"New Road tends to be a result-pitch and if the weather is good for four days and we are able to get a good result - which we believe we can do - we might be able to steal a march on some of the other sides in the division."

Geoff Cook, Durham's new head coach, will be taking charge of his first competitive match after replacing Martyn Moxon, who is Yorkshire's new director of cricket.

Cook has named Ben Harmison in his 12-man squad and, if the young batsman plays, it would be the first time he has lined up with his older brother for the county.

Durham's new signings Michael Di Venuto and Will Smith are also named in the squad.

Worcestershire (from): Solanki (capt), Batty, Moore, Jaques, Smith, Hick, Davies (wk), Sillence, Kabir Ali, Bollinger, Malik, Price.

Durham (from): Di Venuto, Smith, Muchall, Harmison, Benkenstein (capt), Park, Mustard (wk), Breese, Harmison, Onions, Gibson, Thorp.