Nottinghamshire face table-topping Yorkshire this week at Trent Bridge as this summer's LV=County Championship reaches its final stages.

Ahead of the fixture, Steven Mullaney was quick to concentrate on Notts’ preparations rather than looking at the exploits of their opponents.

"We need to focus on what we’re doing,” he said.

“We’ve prepared well. I thought we had a really good crack at Somerset, if the final day hadn’t been washed out with the rain we would have had a good chance of winning.

“We’ve maneuvered ourselves into a decent position and we’re looking to continue that this week.”

Nottinghamshire have five fixtures still to play in this summer’s LV=County Championship, and with a strong finish could find themselves in the upper reaches of the Division One table come the end of September.

“We’ll back ourselves in our home conditions and hopefully we’ll get a good result.” Steven Mullaney

‘We want to be looking at the top three or four, and if we win our remaining games then you never know what might happen,” said Mullaney.

“We’ve got our own aims and if we achieve those in the upcoming games then we’ll find ourselves where we want to be at the end of the season.”

Mullaney, a natural all-rounder, has been used across the order this summer in all three formats, but in recent weeks has occupied the opening spot in four-day cricket. Without a permanent fixture in that position, he has taken the chance to open and done well, scoring 75 in Taunton earlier this month.

“We’ve had some nice wickets to bat on,” said Mullaney.

“I’ve tried to make the most of it and hopefully that can continue through this week and toward the end of the season.

“I’ve had to adapt to it pretty quickly, and I feel that I’ve done well so far.

"It’s different in April and May at Trent Bridge than in June or July at Taunton or The Oval,” he added.

“If I get a crack at it early next season then I’ll be happy, but for now I’m just going to keep batting on these nice pitches while I have the chance.”

Nottinghamshire still have 20 days of LV=County Championship cricket still to play, but the quick succession of fixtures is business as usual for Mullaney and the rest of the side.

“It’s what we get paid for,” he said.

“We’ve worked hard to condition ourselves for this busy run in and we’re looking to finish strongly.

“Yorkshire will be coming here hoping that their seam bowlers will do well again, knock us over and their batsmen will do well.

“We’ll back ourselves in our home conditions and hopefully we’ll get a good result.”