The Blaze will require a level of consistency to challenge for a knock-out place in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, says Head Coach Chris Guest.
Back in Blaze colours after a month apart for the duration of The Hundred, Guest is excited by the task that lies ahead as his side travel to Arundel to face table-toppers and reigning champions Southern Vipers.
Bowling all-rounder and Ireland international Orla Prendergrast joins the squad travelling south and is set to make her debut, having agreed a deal with The Blaze for the remainder of the season.
With many spending the last few weeks spread across various parts of the country for their respective Hundred teams, The Blaze are excited to be back together, Guest says.
“It's brilliant to be back in the Blaze colours,” said the Head Coach, “Obviously this is a slightly strange time of year when everyone goes in different directions and then comes back together, but we've had a really good few days of training and got everyone back together on Friday, and I'm just really excited to see how we can finish this block off.
"Obviously four big games for us now, and we know that almost all of them are a must win so we’ve just got to keep on track."
Though the break meant differing assignments for various members of the squad, Guest ensured that the group remained readily prepared for their return to the Trent Bridge camp.
Their success in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, he said, adds extra fuel to the fire.
"Just before we went, we spoke about people going off enjoying their experience but to keep that bit of Blaze burning while they were away. Now we’re reigniting that as we've come back in, and we’ve got a really big job to do.
"It would be easy to think we’re in the dying end of the season but it’s more the business end," he added, "We had the taste of competing in the Charlotte Edwards Cup and we want to do our best to get us up there for this one.
"Being consistent has been the message we’ve been saying all season. Obviously we need some individual performances to step up but we’ve got some outstanding players who have had some really good times over the last month, we’re just making sure that someone puts their hand up each week to win games."
The Blaze will also have revenge on their mind - not just from last year's trophy final defeat, but from a nail-biting contest at Queen's Park, Chesterfield, where Vipers clinched victory with just four balls to spare.
"We came up against a great knock from Georgia Elwiss that day. I think we maybe left a few runs out there as we know we set a platform for ourselves, I don’t think we bowled great in that game but we put some wrongs right in the game against Storm," Guest said.
"We had a great chase and partnership between Lucy (Higham) and (Ella) Clairdge in that one so we go into this match with some momentum that we had since the first block of the season. After those six games we’ve been used to winning games of cricket and that’s why we want to keep that messaging going forward."
The Blaze's return to action also sees the introduction of Ireland international Orla Prendergast, who brings a considerable List A reputation with both the bat and the ball.
Timed well with the announcement of The Blaze capturing her signature, on the same day the all-rounder blew away Sri Lanka Women by taking 3/25 with the ball before firing her way to an unbeaten 122 at the crease.
With Nadine de Klerk sidelined, Guest emphasised the importance of bringing in a player of Prendergast's calibre.
"It was exciting to see that performance the day it got announced and she brings that international experience," he said, "She’s played in this competition before for Western Storm last year so she knows what it’s about.
"It gives us the chance to replace Nads (de Klerk) and Heather (Graham) with a similar kind of player and helps us with the balance of the side that we like to put out. We’re very excited to see her in the black and orange tomorrow."