Notts Outlaws enter a critical period of their Friends Life t20 campaign with back to back games this forthcoming weekend.

First up are Derbyshire, a team who have won their first three games leading to what promises to be a hotly contested clash between two local rivals.

Director of Cricket Mick Newell revealed how important this game is every time it comes around.

“This is always a key fixture for both teams as we want to beat them, and they are always keen to beat us in any format of the game,” Newell said.

“This game brings together two local rivals and this year it is an important game in the context of group standings.

“The group will be take shape over the next few matches and hopefully we will still be in a strong position.”

Momentum is a key word in any dressing room and after 7 out of 8 Yorkshire Bank 40 wins and victories in the first two Friends Life t20’s, Newell is hoping this form will continue.

“It is pleasing to have continued our good form from the YB40 and I think we have batted well in the first two games of the FLt20.

“Also we have showed some improvement in fielding and bowling so I am quite pleased with how we are going at the moment.”

“Any team you play against will have strength throughout their team and we have to be wary of that.

“However, if we bowl and bat how I know we can then there should be no reason why we can’t continue our run of form.”

With fixtures coming thick and fast, keeping the squad fresh and match fit is one of Newell's key challenges, and one which will become far more prominent over the coming weeks.

“Rotating the squad will become more important come Monday and the start of the Championship game against Surrey,” Newell said.

“People like Luke Fletcher and Andre Adams who haven’t played a lot lately will come into the squad so there will be some fresh bodies about.

“Then you have Ajmal and Harry who are crucial to all formats so the workloads of these two will be managed.”

After the Falcons game the Outlaws’ face a trip up to Durham for their second game in as many days on Saturday afternoon. 

Notts Outlaws squad to face Derbyshire Falcons (from): Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, Riki Wessels, James Taylor, Samit Patel, David Hussey (C), Steven Mullaney, Chris Read (W), Ian Butler, Ajmal Shahzad, Jake Ball, Harry Gurney, Sam Wood.

Derbyshire Falcons (from): Wes Durston, Chesney Hughes, Paul Borrington, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Wayne Madsen, Dan Redfern, Billy Godleman, Albie Morkel, Tom Poynton, Jonathan Clare, Peter Burgoyne, David Wainwright, Mark Footitt, Tim Groenewald

Click here to purchase tickets for Notts Outlaws Friends Life t20 matches at Trent Bridge.

Notts Outlaws Friends Life t20 matches at Trent Bridge
Friday 19 July Vs Durham Dynamos - 6pm TICKETS
Tuesday 23 July Vs Derbyshire Falcons - 6.30pm TICKETS
Friday 26 July Vs Yorkshire Vikings - 6pm TICKETS
Sunday 28 July Vs Lancashire Lightning - 2.40pm TICKETS

Buy In Advance & Save:
Adult tickets £13 / Under 16s and Over 65s £7 / Family ticket (2+2) £33

On the day prices:
Adult tickets £16 / Under 16s / Over 65s £16 / Family ticket (2+2) £40

Enjoy Friends Life t20 hospitality at Trent Bridge for £84 per person
Your package will include:
- Use of a private suite in the Radcliffe Road Stand with a balcony overlooking the field of play
- Nibbles served on arrival
- Hot main dish served in your suite 30 minutes before the start of play
- Cheese, biscuits and chutney during the interval
- Match scorecard
- Box host 
- Car Parking 1:4