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THEY are just 80 overs from striking Twenty20 gold but Glamorgan chief executive Mike Fatkin has stressed it's not about the money when they head to Durham next week.

The Dragons were dramatically reinstated to this season's Twenty20 Cup at the expense of Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire and face Durham in the quarter-final on Monday.

Victory at Chester-le-Street would seal a place at finals day at the Rose Bowl on July 26 with the two successful semi-finalists guaranteed a spot in the Champions League, complete with £2.5million jackpot, at the end of the season.

But Fatkin insists that while the financial gains are a terrific incentive, Monday will be all about the squad looking to make the most of their surprise chance.

"It's not about the money," he said. "It's about the squad having the chance to go up to Durham and face a very good side with the possibility of sealing a place at finals day.

"While we wouldn't want to profit from others' misfortune, it is a welcome bonus for us.

"I'd imagine that a lot of people will want us to go up there and get beaten on the basis that we have almost sneaked in while Durham have been unfortunate with a postponed quarter-final."

The Dragons could come face to face with England one-day skipper Paul Collingwood if he is dropped from the Test clash with South Africa at Headingley which starts on Friday, and Glamorgan will be without their two foreign stars.

South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs, who pummelled 281 runs in six Twenty20 innings, has been replaced as the overseas professional by Aussie paceman Jason Gillespie, who the county will not field as his Indian Cricket League appearances earlier this summer could threaten Glamorgan's participation in the lucrative Champions League.

Both teams will have frantic journeys up north on Sunday, Glam after the final day of their County Championship game with Worcestershire that starts at New Road tomorrow while Durham have a Pro40 match against Middlesex in Uxbridge.

* Robert Croft has been ruled out of the four-day clash at Worcester with a calf strain. His place is likely to go to Alex Wharf.

11:18am Wednesday 16th July 2008

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