Notts batsmen Will Jefferson says that the prospect of qualifying for the top tier of next season’s P20 competition will ensure the Outlaws push hard to beat Lancashire at Trent Bridge on Sunday.

Hopes of a quarter-final place in the Twenty20 Cup were dashed as results transpired against Notts on Friday but a fourth consecutive victory could earn a third place finish in the North Division and a place in the inaugural P20 Division One.

“Winning breeds winning and we’ve given ourselves an opportunity to play in the top tier of an exciting new competition which is a huge motivating factor,” said Jefferson, who scored 31 runs to help dispatch Derbyshire Phantoms at Trent Bridge on Friday.

“We didn’t make the best start in the competition and that led to us having some serious discussions about our approach. People may have questioned our desire and our capability but we made some changes and came into this week with the aim of winning four from four.

“As cricket players, we love the innovation that goes hand in hand with Twenty20 cricket and we love playing in front of big crowds and the Twenty20 Cup and P20 carry prestige because of that.”

Lying fourth on eight points, Notts Outlaws will finish on ten if they can overcome Lancashire on Sunday. If Leicestershire beat Durham at Grace Road, that will be enough to give Notts a third place finish. Fifth placed Yorkshire also have 8 points but have an inferior run rate to Notts ahead of their game against Derbyshire at Headingley.

“David Hussey has joined us now and he’s such an exciting player to have in the squad. I watched him in the nets and in the middle yesterday and it’s clear that we’ve pulled off a coup to get an international match-winner into our ranks,” said Jefferson.

“Matt Wood and Ali Brown have led from the front and produced three fruitful partnerships and we’ve got some depth behind them as well.

“We’re playing well, we’ve got good momentum and we’re all looking forward to getting out there on Sunday.”

Advance tickets for the match cost £12 for adults, £7 for juniors and senior citizens and £31 for a family of two adults and two under-16s and can be purchased here or from the Trent Bridge Ticket Office on 0870 168 8888 until 4pm today.

Tickets on the day cost £15 for adults, £8 for juniors and £38 for a family.