Middlesex are aiming to bounce back from their first CricInfo Championship defeat of the season when they entertain Gloucestershire at Lord's tomorrow.

Their loss at Hove meant Sussex leapfrogged them in the table but with Sussex taking on the Australians, it leaves the way open for Middlesex to regain the top spot if they can beat the West Country outfit.

Middlesex were missing captain Angus Fraser, Stephen Fleming and David Nash for the Sussex game but all should be fit for the visit of Gloucestershire.

Coach John Emburey said: "We didn't play well against Sussex. They outplayed us in every department really.

"Obviously we didn't play as well as everyone would have liked but really it was just four days bad cricket out of the 60 or 70 we have played.

"We have been near the top of the table all season and have played some really good cricket.

"We have just got to keep working hard and are looking forward to bouncing back against Gloucestershire.

"We have got a lot of belief, we'll be at full strength and we know we can turn things back."

Gloucestershire themselves are still harbouring hopes of promotion, expecially after their recent victory over Sussex, but Chris Taylor will be missing the trip to Lord's because of a neck injury.

In the other second division matches, the bottom four play each other - Worcestershire travel to Nottingham and Derbyshire visit Durham.

In the first division, Kent will aim to continue their Championship push at Northampton while Surrey entertain Glamorgan. The Londoners will welcome back their England quintet of Mark Butcher, Mark Ramprakash, Alec Stewart, Ian Ward and Alex Tudor, but skipper Adam Hollioake may miss out because of a stomach muscle strain.

Coach Alan Butcher said: "Looking at the table, we are only one place away from the relegation zone and Glamorgan are immediately below us.

"We need to make sure we don't get caught up in any dog fight and slip down a division, which would be ridiculous after the last two seasons."

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