Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell has targeted back to back wins over Essex Eagles and The Unicorns to get Notts Outlaws’ Clydesdale Bank 40 campaign back on track.

Notts are mid-table in their group with only the group winners guaranteed to progress to the semi-finals.

"We have to be realistic and say that unless we go on a big unbeaten run it is going to be difficult, especially as we don't know which players are going to be available later in the summer," he said.

"You look at the other two competitions we are involved in and it is still very much to play for.

"But it is still an opportunity for people like Alex Hales and Samit Patel to lift their profile in one-day cricket.

"It also gives people like Jake Ball, Graeme White and Ben Phillips the chance to show they deserve to be in the t20 side regularly.

"All of a sudden, with two wins, we could find ourselves back in the hunt, but for the moment our priority has to be the other competitions."

Alex Hales, Samit Patel, Adam Voges and Chris Read will all be included in the team to face Essex this afternoon but several players are in contention to come into the side.

Paul Franks, Ben Phillips and Jake Ball will all hope to feature with Essex set to include New Zealander Scott Styris.