All five counties involved in the tightest title race in years agree on one thing: There are no favourites.

But Sussex skipper Chris Adams believes his side will be champions again if they win their last three matches.

That's a big ask with a trip to Edgbaston - where Sussex haven't won since the days of Imran Khan and Garth Le Roux - first up today and a Hove finale against rivals Kent.

But of the contenders, Sussex do have all-important momentum going into the last month of the season, having won their last three games.

And their key men are coming to the boil just at the right time. Leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed has taken 60 wickets including 24 in his last three games while fellow Pakistani Rana Naved has more than made up for the absence of Jason Lewry with 38 wickets in six games including 20 in those three successive victories.

Lewry could be back for the last two games and opener Ian Ward is ready to add his experience to the top order against Warwickshire today, providing he passes a fitness test after a month out with groin trouble.

Adams doesn't believe he can make a clear-headed assessment of Sussex's chances until after events at Edgbaston have unfolded.

But he has a sneaking feeling that it might all boil down to the last round when Kent visit Hove while Hampshire entertain Nottinghamshire at the Rose Bowl.

"If we won two out of the last three we would have a great chance, but I think one of those wins would have to be against Kent, I don't think we could afford to lose to them," he said.

"It would be a fantastic achievement if we were still involved in the last round considering all the problems this season with the weather and injuries.

"And if we can beat Warwickshire then we will be able to sit back and watch the others battle it out which should be interesting."

The closeness of the Championship battle is reflected in the fact that four of the top five have already won more games than the five Warwickshire managed when they took the pennant last season and Sussex have equalled that mark.

The other four have all played a game less but how much difference that makes is hard to say. There are six matches involving the title rivals to be played and the weather will undoubtedly be a factor as well.

Adams says talk of a second title in three years has been banned from the dressing room, but he has considered the possibilities as much as the rest of the squad.

And there is a real determination to give director of cricket Peter Moores the best possible send-off before he heads to the National Academy.