Harry Gurney believes Notts Outlaws will be boosted by their home support in the NatWest T20 Blast Quarter-Final against Essex Eagles on Monday.
The 29-year-old left-arm seamer says the Outlaws have accomplished their first two objectives in the competition; qualifying from the group stage and securing the top-two finish that secured a home quarter-final.
Gurney insists the Outlaws will be completely undeterred by four successive losses in home quarter-finals dating back to 2011.
“We love playing at Trent Bridge,” he said. “We’ve got a pretty good record at home over the years and it’s certainly an advantage playing any cricket match on your own turf.
“For a big knockout game like that, we are really chuffed to have secured it.”
The feat of qualifying as North Group winners comes as no surprise to the former Leicestershire man, despite Notts losing their first two games in the competition.
“I was, personally, never too worried about losing those first two games if I’m honest,” he said.
“Mick might give you a different story but, from my perspective, I was pretty confident we would qualify.
“Looking back, I guess the turning point might have been that Saturday afternoon at Trent Bridge when we beat Lancashire Lightning when they went over their cut off time and, instead of needing 15 off the last over, we only needed nine.
“Sam Wood pumped the first or second ball of the over into the Smith Cooper Stand and that was that."
Since that crucial win, Notts have stormed to victory in their following eight completed games; form that stands them in good stead heading into the crunch fixture against the Eagles.
“From a players’ perspective you’re just looking at trying to go out there, bowl your balls and perform as well as you can," he said.
“We will go into this year’s quarter-final in a much better position to win the game and hopefully book a spot in the finals."
Notts Outlaws will face the Essex Eagles in the quarter-final of the NatWest T20 Blast, with a 6.30pm start on Monday 8 August at Trent Bridge, and tickets are on sale now.