Surrey cricketer Neil Saker is set to open talks over his future at the club after failing to make an appearance in the London Victoria County Championship Division One this season.

The 23-year-old pace bowler returned figures of 0-79 in his second Friends Provident Trophy outing of the campaign, Sunday's 17-run defeat at Kent, that featured a career one-day best 139 for skipper Mark Butcher.

The Morden-born youngster, who took 5-76 against Lancashire this time last year, has not featured in the first team this summer and has claimed just four wickets in the second eleven.

But Saker, who turned down the chance of spending a spell on loan at Derbyshire earlier in the year, admits he is fighting a tough battle to shift Pedro Collins, Jimmy Ormond, Matt Nicholson or Chris Jordan from the first-choice attack.

And he is prepared to take the lead of England star Ryan Sidebottom's book to get his first-class career back on track.

"The first team squad looks pretty settled from my point of view. There was talk of going on loan and I think I am at the stage where that discussion needs to take place again," he said.

"I want to fulfil my own ambitions and that is to play first class cricket. I would love that to be at Surrey, but I need to get some first class cricket under my belt.

"Ryan played for England at an early stage in his career, but then went away and learnt his game on the county circuit, moved clubs and has come back different class.

"If you bring that down a level, maybe that is the sort of thing I need to do.

"I will be sitting down for talks with the management next week."

Surrey look unlikely to be involved in the latter stages of the Friends Provident Trophy beyond the group stages for the second season in succession - despite making an unbeaten start to the four-day campaign.

And Saker believes the side must concentrate on getting the basics right to prosper in the Pro 40 clashes to come later in the season.

"On paper, we have a side that on its day can beat anyone in the country," he added.

"Our fielding has let us down and is something we must improve on as a side and as individuals."

Surrey face Somerset at Whitgift School next week.