Outlaws opener Ben Slater says the local derby adds spice, but the team's approach won't alter as the Outlaws face the Foxes in the Royal London One-Day Cup on Friday.
Having made the move down the A52 from Derbyshire at the back end of the 2018 season, Slater has not left his free-scoring form behind.
From a century against Yorkshire on his Specsavers County Championship home debut to his latest three figure score in the Royal London One-Day Cup victory over Warwickshire, the 27-year-old has made his mark in both formats.
“I had a couple of fifties in the first two games so it was nice to convert one of them and make a hundred against Warwickshire,” said Slater.
“It helps to get those sorts of scores early on in my time at Notts, to settle into the side and prove to the Members, supporters and the lads that I play with that I put in those performances.
“The main objective has been to get points on the board and helping contribute to those has been a big factor for me.”
Scores of 74 against Lancashire – where both sides scored in excess of 400 – 83 versus Derbyshire and 100 in the latest victory over Warwickshire has lifted his List A average to a lofty 55.46 from 35 matches, up from 51.84 upon his arrival.
The Chesterfield-born left-hander has taken to life as an Outlaw seemingly with ease but the opener believes his job has been made simpler by players around him.
“Clarkey (Joe Clarke) is a great player and he’s got off to a flier in the first few matches,” he said.
“It’s our job to make the most of the powerplay and he scores all round the wicket and when that happens it’s on me to get him on strike as much as possible.
“He’s a quality player and we’re building on our partnership out in the middle.
“Most of the guys have contributed across the first three games of the campaign.
“When someone has missed out there has always been another player there to step up and score runs, especially against Warwickshire.
“The lads down the order – Fletch (Luke Fletcher), Patto (James Pattinson) and Matt Carter – their runs were invaluable in getting us up past 300.”
Having already faced his old Club over the past week, Slater is primed for his second local derby of the group stages with the visit of the Foxes.
With the added spice that these sorts of fixtures bring and some key Foxes men in form, Slater is taking nothing for granted ahead of the Friday meeting.
“In local derbies there is a bit of extra spice but the goal is still the same,” said Slater.
“You want to perform well, get the win and the two points.
“Every side you face has some quality in their ranks and for the Foxes Ackermann has a couple of back-to-back centuries and Cosgrove has always been consistent in the years he has been there.”
The Outlaws have named an unchanged squad for the match against the Foxes.
Alex Hales has made himself unavailable for selection for personal reasons and no timetable has been set for his return to action, while Paul Coughlin has stepped up his return from a finger injury with an outing for the Seconds.
Notts Outlaws 14-man squad to face Leicestershire: Jake Ball, Matthew Carter, Zak Chappell, Joe Clarke, Ben Duckett, Luke Fletcher, Jake Libby, Tom Moores, Steven Mullaney (c), Chris Nash, Samit Patel, James Pattinson, Ben Slater, Luke Wood.
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