STEELBACKS coach David Capel says there is an air of excitement at the County Ground ahead of the Friends Life t20 opener against the Welsh Dragons tonight.
The Twenty20 circus – a 10-game group stage spread over the best part of a month – generally brings with it a more carefree atmosphere.
And Capel believes his side will play their best cricket if they adopt a similar frame of mind.
He said: “We’re very much looking forward to it, it’s an exciting part of the season. We want to compete but we need to play with an element of fun and for people to see us doing that.
“We play our best cricket when we’re like that so while we’ll be up for it, we want to have some fun.”
A top three finish in the six-strong group that consists of the Dragons, Somerset, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire is the bare minimum if qualification for the quarter-finals is to be achieved.
And Capel thinks his side contains the players to do just that.
He added: “There are no walkovers these days and every side has quality players. But so have we, and we have the ability to do well in the competition.”
The only injury absentee for the home side will be David Sales (hamstring) but there is better news with Rob Newton, who cracked a bone in his left wrist during the game at Kent last month, back in contention.
Jack Brooks and Chaminda Vaas, who returned from back and hip injuries respectively last week, will be available, as is Australian import Cameron White who will make his Northants debut.