Essex Eagles head coach Chris Silverwood says the approach will not change as they bid to secure a home semi-final in the Royal London One-Day Cup this afternoon.

The Eagles need only a point against Kent Spitfires to ensure top spot in the Southern Group and book a home semi-final next month.

Victory, a point from a tied match or no-result would be sufficient to take the Eagles just a game away from a place in a Lord’s final for the first time since 2008.

Essex have recorded six wins from their seven matches in the competition so far, the latest being a 72-run success over Somerset at Taunton on Sunday.

And Silverwood has called for one final push.

“At the start of the competition, our first aim was to reach the knockout stages and we’ve done that in some style,” he said. “All credit to the boys for that but now we want to try and ensure a home semi-final.

“Our approach will be the exactly the same as it has been so far. We’ll get stuck in, follow the same pattern and hopefully get the same results as we have done.”

“We knew it was always going to be a tough game at Somerset, who have had such a good season in 50 overs cricket.

“But once again, we had people put their hands up to see us through. Cooky, not for the first time, was very good at the top of the order for us.

“It was great to see Tom Westley back in the runs with a very nice hundred and I thought that Ravi (Bopara) played particularly well. He came in and nurtured the middle order and got us through to a big score so that was excellent. Ashar (Zaidi) played a little cameo and overall, it was a very satisfying performance.

Essex Eagles squad to face Kent Spitfires: Ten Doeschate, Foster, Chopra, Harmer, Wagner, Westley, Walter, Bopara, Cook, Lawrence, Wheater, Porter, Taylor, Zaidi