Well, this is all beautifully poised, isn't it?

Leaders Notts head to Warwickshire, who lie two places and just five points back after a thrilling win over Sussex last time out.

Somerset's thumping win over Essex has them sandwiched in between, just two points behind the defending champions as they seek to secure their very first title.

Leicestershire have won back-to-back games and head to Scarbados this week looking to drag Yorkshire into the relegation scrap and, dare we say it, potentially pull Surrey into the bottom two.

This table could look very different indeed come Sunday evening.

Durham will be top no matter the outcome of their home game against basement-boys Gloucestershire this week, but with a 30-point cushion and the possibility of a seventh win in 10 games, it seems a matter of when not if they make their immediate return to the top flight.

Who joins them is an entirely different matter, however.

Kent registered a third straight win and fifth in six matches last time out against Middlesex to take a slender grip on second place ahead of this week's trip to closest rivals Northampton.

Kent escaped with a draw despite surrendering a fifrst innings lead of more than 500 in the reverse fixture in April and Northants will be keen to exact some revenge.

Derbyshire and Middlesex know a win is likely needed to keep themselves in the hunt while Worcestershire welcome Jimmy Anderson and Lancashire aiming to keep the pressure on the sides above.

Image source, Shutterstock

Not sure if you've noticed, but it's been very wet for much of the country this morning.

We're expecting some delayed starts across the land as a band of heavy rain heads north, with the possibility of sunshine and thundery showers to follow in its wake.

Here's the latest from our colleagues at BBC Weather.

Division Two:

Derby: Derbyshire v Middlesex

Chester-le-Street: Durham v Gloucestershire

Northampton: Northamptonshire v Kent

Worcester: Worcestershire v Lancashire

If you have plans across the next four days, it may be best to cancel them... this should be an absorbing week of County Championship cricket.

Division One:

Chelmsford: Essex v Surrey

Cardiff: Glamorgan v Hampshire

Hove: Sussex v Somerset

Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Nottinghamshire

Scarborough: Yorkshire v Leicestershire

Image source, Shutterstock

Morning all.

We're firmly in the business end of the County Championship season and it's shaping up to be one of the most dramatic on record,

Five matches remain and there are titles, promotions and relegations which need to be settled across the next four weeks.

Mother Nature has reared her head for this final round of August action and there's the possibility of play being impacted today, but with a full slate of games there's plenty to get through first.

Let's bring you up to speed before the bell sounds in about 25 minutes from now.