Kent’s players will stride into the NatWest T20 Blast last chance saloon with two, final south group qualifiers in the space of 48 hours that will decide their qualification fate for 2017.

Although they prop up the south group table in ninth spot going into their last brace of fixtures, such is the tight nature of this year’s short-form extravaganza that Spitfires could still reach the Blast’s last eight should they beat Essex in Chelmsford tonight (7pm) and Surrey at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence tomorrow Friday (7pm).

The side’s leading T20 Blast run-scorer for 2017, opening bat Joe Denly, is hoping the club can emulate the Spitfires’ class of 2007 by mounting a late run that led to them lifting the T20 trophy for the first and only time to date with victory over Gloucestershire in Birmingham.

“We’ve been hot and cold throughout this season. We’ve won some great games but, in the mix, there have also been some poor performances,” conceded Denly.

“The trick, as we found in 2007, is to build momentum, even if it’s really late in the qualifiers. Then, to take that confidence with you into the quarters and on to finals day, as we did at Edgbaston.

“Time will tell if we can achieve that again this year, but we’ll be giving it our best shot for sure.”

Kent sustained their qualification hopes with last Saturday’s crucial six-wicket win over Somerset in Taunton. Their eighth straight T20 win over the West Country county was inspired by a 5-11 burst by Adam Milne, their Kiwi strike bowler, in his first game back from a thigh injury. Milne’s stint was Kent’s best-ever in the competition, beating the 5-17 return of Wahab Riaz against Gloucestershire at Beckenham in 2011.

Milne and his Black Caps team-mate Jimmy Neesham are both named in an unchanged Kent squad for tonight’s trip to New Writtle Street where they will face a confident Essex side fresh from three consecutive south group wins.

In other Kent news, Hampshire have recalled their 20-year-old top-order batsman Joe Weatherley from his season-long loan following injuries to Rilee Rossouw and Lewis McManus. The former England Under-19 opener his a championship best of 36 during his stint with Kent.

Match statistics:

Essex Eagles v Kent Spitfires

Essex Eagles have won four straight home games versus Kent Spitfires.

The Spitfires won the reverse fixture earlier this season; it was only their second victory in 10 attempts versus the Eagles (L8).

Essex Eagles have won three successive matches coming into this game having previously managed one in four beforehand (L3).

Adam Milne (Kent Spitfires) has taken his 11 wickets at a strike rate of just 9.7 this season; including career-best T20 figures of 5-11.

Kent Spitfires v Surrey

The Spitfires have won five of their last six matches played against Surrey (L1).

In fact, they have claimed three wins on the trot at home to Surrey.

Surrey have only managed one win in their last nine on the road (L8), including a defeat to Kent Spitfires.

Sam Northeast (Kent Spitfires) has managed to reach 50 in three of his last four innings at Canterbury.