Leicestershire Foxes know that it will take a squad effort for them to make an impact on the new-look NatWest T20 Blast this season.
The Foxes begin their campaign this evening at home to Derbyshire Falcons (5.30) but, with the qualifying stages made up of 14 games stretching to July 27, it is a far different proposition to past years, when games have been crammed into a four or five-week period.
That means opportunities are likely to come and go through the course of the group stages, so the side that takes the field this evening is not necessarily the one that will take the Foxes through the next couple of months – unless matters go exceptionally well.
"Games are over a 10-week period now so we know that it will take a squad effort," said Leicestershire one-day skipper Josh Cobb.
"You don't know what could happen with injuries, and form has to be taken into account – if somebody is playing well in four-day cricket then you have to consider them for T20.
"So there are going to be plenty of chances for people to put their names in the hat."
Cobb will be one of the men Leicestershire supporters look to to give them a spring-heeled start to their innings, but the captain is far from alone in being able to put runs on the board at a rapid rate.
There were one or two pleasant surprises last season, too, as a couple of young batters showed they have the potential to prosper in the short form of the game.
Greg Smith shone as he averaged almost 40 at a punishing strike rate of 130, while Ned Eckersley and Rob Taylor also broke through.
"We know what a superb player Ned is but we didn't have him down as a power-hitter," said Cobb. "He proved people wrong.
"Rob has played a lot of cricket over the winter and is a very good one-day player."
Cobb also says there is another young gun to look out for.
"Tom Wells is a very exciting hitter of the ball and he will be there or thereabouts in the squad," he said.
Cobb hit two half-centuries in 20-over cricket last season to go with his three tons in the 40-over game.
He has a first season of captaincy under his belt, too, while the rest of the squad have also added to their experience.
"We will benefit from last year," said the Foxes skipper. "We were gutted not to make it through to the quarter-finals but certain players who hadn't had the experience have that campaign behind them now."
This season's competition is split into two groups of nine – as it was when the Foxes last won it in 2011.
As well as Derbyshire, Leicestershire face fixtures against Lancashire, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Durham, Northants, Worcestershire and Warwickshire – who this season go under the Birmingham Bears moniker.
The top four qualify for the quarter-finals.
