Harry Gurney has dispelled any notion that the Outlaws will be taking it easy in their final group-stage game of the Vitality Blast, with the side having already secured a quarter-final spot.
Notts currently sit in second place with 16 points to their name, with the small matter of home advantage in the next stage of the competition up for grabs against Durham from 6:30pm on Friday night.
Even if that weren’t the case, the Outlaws quick insists that the side wouldn’t be resting on their laurels given the importance of momentum towards the back end of any tournament.
“It sounds like a cliché but in white ball cricket momentum in the second half of the competition really matters,” said Gurney.
“You get to the point where everyone knows their role, the team is stable and there are fewer changes for each game.
“As far as we’re concerned we’re four wins away from lifting a trophy.”
Perennial quarter-finalists in the shortest format, the Outlaws have had differing fortunes at the first knockout stage in recent summers.
Having been victorious in 2017 at home against Somerset, but defeated against the same opposition away a year later, Gurney knows the importance of securing home advantage.
“We want to reward our amazing home support, during a year of record-breaking attendances, with another game at Trent Bridge for them,” said Gurney.
“It doesn’t matter how many games you have played, when the music is playing, the fireworks go off and you run out onto the pitch you can’t help but get goosebumps.
“We absolutely love it, there’s always a bit of excitement in the changing room when the boys arrive and during the warm ups there's a real buzz at T20s.
“Also, from a team perspective, we are familiar with the conditions here,” he continued.
“If you look back over the past couple of years, in 2017 we had a quarter-final here and won, and in 2018 we lost away from home.
“We recognise the importance of that home draw and we certainly won’t be taking our feet off the gas tomorrow.”
The Outlaws could have been in an altogether different position going into the final round of games had it not been for a nail-biting victory over the Yorkshire Vikings on Sunday.
Gurney more than played his part in the campaign-defining triumph, and the white ball specialist says his ability to nail his skills under extreme pressure has been honed over time.
“It comes with experience and you can’t buy that,” said Gurney.
“Once you’ve done it a few times, which I now have over my career, you understand that you are going to get the occasional day when it goes against you.
“The second ball of my last over could have landed in the stand and that would be game over and I’d walk off as the villain.
“You hope you come out on the right side of it more often than not.
“It’s a role I’ve always enjoyed and you almost have to trick yourself into thinking it is just another game of cricket.
“I see it as an opportunity to be a hero and win the game.”
Gurney and fellow paceman Luke Fletcher were key in the win, as their death overs secured a vital Blast victory for the Outlaws in the Bank Holiday Sunday sunshine.
However, the 32-year-old has been around long enough to know that T20 is a fickle game, and that the side need to stay on the front foot by beating Durham tomorrow.
“They’re a dangerous team with some very good cricketers,” said Gurney.
“We’ll be doing our homework as we usually do and we’ve prepped up well – better actually than we normally would due to the rained off match yesterday – and the boys are looking forward to it.”
Notts Outlaws squad to face Durham (from): Jake Ball, Matt Carter, Dan Christian (c), Joe Clarke, Ben Duckett, Luke Fletcher, Harry Gurney, Alex Hales, Jake Libby, Tom Moores, Chris Nash, Samit Patel, Imad Wasim, Luke Wood.
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There is just one further opportunity to catch the Outlaws in T20 group stage action at Trent Bridge this summer, with Durham the visitors under the Friday night lights on 30 August.