WE’RE up playing against Northampton this week and it’s a big opportunity to show the other teams in the division that we mean business this season.

They’re the only unbeaten side in the league and the chance to be the first team to beat them this eason definitely gives you that little bit of extra motivation.

They’re a good side with a very good bowling attack and they’ve played some good cricket so far, but so have we and I’m sure they’ll fear us.

We’ve definitely sent out a message in the Pro40 competition so far but this is definitely a massive game as we want to get promotion.

Unfortunately, our game against Lancashire last week ended up being pretty frustrating.

It would have been nice for them to set up a game but even though it’s early days in the season, I think the fact that they batted things out shows that they think we’re a threat.

There isn’t really very much that you can do in that situation and you can’t blame them because teams are wary about giving anything away until a lot later in the summer.

I was pretty happy with the runs that I scored (55) but I know that I haven’t really got the runs that I deserve yet this season – there’s a hell of a lot of cricket left to play yet though.

Before that, we had another great win in the pro40 (against Lancashire) and four wins out of five has been a brilliant start to take us top of the table.

Carbs (Michael Carberry) has had some great knocks for us over the years but even he admitted that was probably his best-ever batting performance.

As long as he keeps on scoring runs like that, I don’t think that England can keep on overlooking him.

Tom Alsop also came in to the game and didn’t look out of place at all.

I think that there can’t be an easier dressing room to come in to than ours and he took a great catch on the day.

I’m sure if he carries on doing well for the academy, he can get a pro contract.