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Scott Borthwick is set to make his final Durham appearance at the Riverside this week, then join the opposition at the end of the season.

The Journal understands Borthwick told his Durham team-mates on Sunday he will leave when his contract expires this winter.

It is a major blow for the club ahead of their final two matches of the season. Winning one should be enough to safeguard the club’s place in Division One.

Their opponents for the final home game of the campaign, which starts on Monday, are Surrey.

The Sunderland-born 26-year-old is expected to follow the lead of Mark Stoneman and move to The Oval.

To lose two home-grown players of such quality is a massive blow to Durham, who have let Phil Mustard, Gordon Muchall, Jamie Harrison and Calum MacLeod leave as well as spinner Gurman Randhawa, the second team’s leading wicket-taker.

Stoneman, from Sunniside, was captain of the limited-overs side until he announced he was joining Surrey, while Borthwick has top-scored in each of the last three summers.

Originally a leg-spinner who batted, Borthwick was promoted to come in at the fall of the first wicket in the Riversiders’ 2013 title-winning side and has flourished into one of the country’s finest No.3s. Like Stoneman, he topped 1,000 Championship runs that summer and every year since.

Borthwick needs 93 more runs and Stoneman 43 to do it again. The only person to have achieved that to date is Michael Di Venuto, who will now coach the pair in 2017.

That neither has had England recognition on the back of that has perhaps been a factor in their departures. Borthwick’s only England cap was won in January 2014 as a bowler. He looked set to replace Nick Compton after a dreadful run of form, only to lose his own touch.

The uncertainty over his future may have been a factor in that, but it has certainly affected Durham. Their last Championship win of the season came days before Stoneman announced he was leaving and Mustard joined Gloucestershire on loan until the end of his contract.

After the game against Surrey – who were themselves in relegation trouble when Stoneman agreed to move – Durham travel to Hampshire, currently occupying the final relegation place.

Borthwick and Stoneman are now likely to be in the awkward position of facing their future employers. Coach Jon Lewis indicated two weeks ago he would have no qualms about Stoneman playing, so the same must surely apply to Borthwick.

Some of those surrounding Stoneman and Borthwick have been suggesting they would have a better chance of international recognition playing on flatter pitches. Ironically, Chester-le-Street has become considerably more batsman-friendly in 2016.

Financial difficulties have made life difficult for Durham this season, but they are thought to have made generous offers to both players. Stoneman was not happy that his only came after he had given the county 28 days’ notice of his intention to consider his options for next year.

Keaton Jennings has agreed a new four-year contract this summer and is expected to succeed Stoneman as limited-overs captain, while Ben Stokes has signed a one-year contract extension.

Durham are hopeful of keeping Paul Coughlin, and Mark Wood’s return to the England fold could be well timed. A new central contract this week will make it much easier to keep the fast bowler.

Monday’s game starts at 10.30am.