Whilst Nottinghamshire are still seeking their maiden win in the domestic Friends Life t20 competition, they have at least continued their proud tradition of securing home quarter final advantage.

This year will see them play their sixth match on home soil at the last eight stage, more than any other county – and made the quarter-finals for the fourth year in a row.

While the conversion rate isn’t outstanding at the moment – only two trips to Finals Day wins out of the previous five matches – the opportunity of progressing to Edgbaston on August 17 will, once again, be played out in front of the passionate Notts fans when the Outlaws meet Essex Eagles at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

Lancashire have reached the quarters on the most occasions – 2013 will be their eighth time – but only five of their previous matches have been played out at Old Trafford.

All 18 counties have reached this stage of the competition at some time over the last decade. Indeed every county has made the last eight on at least two occasions, apart from Derbyshire, whose sole appearance came in 2005.

Apart from the financial boost that goes with hosting such an important tie, home conditions are always favourable for the players, although the last two seasons have seen them denied in the cruellest of fashions.

In 2011 Notts scored 169-5 against Somerset but the west country side managed to get home thanks to a blistering undefeated fifth wicket stand of 66 in just 4.2 overs between Kieron Pollard (47 in 25 balls) and Jos Buttler (34 in only 14).

Last year Notts were in an even better position. Again they batted first, and posted 178 for seven.

At 128-6, in the 16th over, Hampshire were out of things but somehow got home, due a mightily impressive 79 from 49 balls from Neil McKenzie, who won the game with a boundary from the final delivery.

Notts' other quarter final experiences came in 2006, 2007 and 2010.

Their first visit to the last eight saw a comfortable 63-run win over Northants. Notts scored 213-6 with David Hussey blasting 71 from 34 balls and Samit Patel scored 65 from 38.

Northants were restricted to 150-6 with former Notts player Lance Klusener hitting 72 not out.

The following year saw Notts easily defeated at home by Kent, in a one-sided quarter final. 138 all out was never going to be enough, although the visitors took until the final over before completing their victory.

Under the floodlights – and with an amazing atmosphere inside Trent Bridge – Notts beat Sussex to reach Finals Day in 2010.

Restricted to 141-9, Notts were excellent with the ball, and in the field, and limited the south coast side to 128-7 in reply.

The first season of domestic t20 cricket didn’t have a quarter final stage, with the three group winners and best second-placed side going straight through to Finals Day but since then the full list of full list of quarter-finalists between (2004-2013) is as follows, with number of home ties in brackets:

8 Lancashire (5)

6 Nottinghamshire (6) Warwickshire (2) Somerset (1) Hampshire (2) Northants (4) Essex (2)

5 Sussex (3) Kent (3)

4 Leicestershire (3) Surrey (3) Durham (2)

3 Yorkshire (1) Gloucestershire (2) Worcestershire (0)

2 Middlesex (1) Glamorgan (1)

1 Derbyshire (0)

Dave Bracegirdle provides ball-by-ball commentary on all Notts Outlaws fixtures for BBC Radio Nottingham.

Tickets for the Outlaws' Friends Life t20 quarter-final are already on sale to members with general sale beginning at 4.30pm on Thursday, initially from the Club's online box office.

Members can visit the Trent Bridge ticket office or call the ticket hotline from 9.30am on Thursday with ticket office and phone bookings accepted from all supporters from 9.30am on Friday.

Tickets for the Outlaws' Friends Life t20 quarter-final are now on general sale from our online box office.

Supporters can also visit the Trent Bridge ticket office or call the ticket hotline (0844 8118711) during office hours.

Friends Life t20 Quarter-Final Ticket information
Notts Outlaws v Essex Eagles, Thursday 8 August, 7.10pm CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

Ticket prices:
Buy before 4.30pm on Wednesday 7 August: 
Members - Adults £15 / Under 16s £8 / Over 65s £8
Non-members - Adults £17 / Under 16s £9 / Over 65s £9 / families (2+2) £43
On the day:
Adults £20 / Over 65s £20 / Under 16s £10 / Families (2+2) £50