The Nottinghamshire Academy side are back in action this Saturday with a match in the Notts Premier League against top of the table Plumtree CC, but batsman Sam Kelsall is aware of the task ahead, and what will need to be done.

"I don't think we should be considered underdogs," he said.

"We can’t underestimate anyone in this league this year; all of the teams are capable, if they turn up, of beating one another.

"We're a young side, but that doesn't mean we're not a good side," added Kelsall.

The side's first two fixtures have ended without an outright win, their opening match abandoned, followed by a winning draw against Mansfield HM, but Kelsall is quick to reassure that the best of the Academy XI is yet to come.

"We’ve done quite well so far," he said.

"We’ve struggled a bit with the bat, I’m not sure why that is, but the responsibility lies with the top order, players like myself, to take control of matches, to score some runs and ultimately set everything up for the bowlers to close proceedings," added Kelsall.

"My challenge is to stay at the crease for as long as possible" Sam Kelsall

"I don’t think we’ve had a chance to prove ourselves yet. The first game (against Welbeck Colliery) was really badly rain-affected.

"In contrast, we dominated much of the second fixture, but couldn’t get those final two wickets to seal the match."

This weekend's fixture will be played at the Academy's home turf at Lady Bay, but it appears that home advantage doesn't always translate into results.

"It’s always going to be hard to bowl people out playing at Lady Bay, it’s a really flat pitch," said Kelsall.

"We have to look to bowl first and work hard. The nature of the pitch means that chasing totals as high as 280 is possible, but the work with the ball is always hardest to achieve because of the conditions."

Kelsall himself has been one of the standout players in the early stages in the season for both the academy side and the Second XI, picking up runs at every opportunity. With this comes a little extra pressure, but one that Kelsall is relishing.

"I think that being a senior player in the academy brings a little extra responsibility," he said.

"My challenge will be to stay at the crease for as long as possible, and with that I know that the runs will follow."

Being a more experienced player is a nice feeling, and hopefully the lads will look up to the likes of myself and Sam Wood and we can lead by example against the side at the top of the league tomorrow," added Kelsall.

The Nottinghamshire Academy face Plumtree tomorrow at Lady Bay, with play starting at 12.30.