Matt Wood could be included in the Nottinghamshire team to face Surrey at The Oval after being included in Mick Newell’s twelve-man squad.

Wood could force is way into the opening partnership or bat in the middle order unless Newell retains the four-pronged pace attack of Mark Ealham, Andre Adams, Darren Pattinson and Charlie Shreck.

Notts missed out on the NatWest Pro40 Division One title after slipping to a final-ball defeat against Sussex Sharks on Sunday which has served to increase Newell’s determination to fight for a second LV County Championship crown.

“There’s no hang-over from the disappointment of Sunday’s game because 90 per cent of what we did was very good but if we have a winning opportunity then we have to seize it,” said Notts Director of Cricket Mick Newell.

“We might go with four seam bowlers or include Matt to add depth to our batting but we’ll make a late call on that after we’ve had a chance to look at the conditions.

“If we are going to beat Surrey then we have to get Mark Ramprakash out twice on a good pitch which is never an easy task. Surrey have more championship batting points than any other side and we know how capable they are of posting big scores.

“It’s more than likely that the winner will come from the current top four but there are one or two other teams who can join the race if they win this week.”

Lying in fourth position with a game in hand on first-placed Hampshire, Notts will also keep an eye on second-placed Somerset who begin at Yorkshire on Wednesday and third-placed Durham who host Sussex.

Nottinghamshire (from): Will Jefferson, Bilal Shafayat, Mark Wagh, Ashwell Prince, Matt Wood, Samit Patel, Graeme Swann, Chris Read, Mark Ealham, Andre Adams, Darren Pattinson, Charlie Shreck