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Alex Blake insists there is enough depth in Kent’s squad to go all the way in the Royal London One-Day Cup.
Kent have lost head coach Matt Walker, captain Sam Billings, Jordan Cox, Matt Milnes, Jack Leaning and Daniel Bell-Drummond to The Hundred while Zak Crawley is still in England's side, but their squad - captained by Joe Denly - does still appear to be a strong one.
They will aim to progress to the semi-final stages of the competition today when they visit Leicestershire, coached by former Kent wicketkeeper Paul Nixon, as departing Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens goes back to his old stomping ground.
“If you look at our line-up from one to 11, we have used different players throughout,” said Blake.
“We haven’t got Navdeep Saini [their Indian overseas] now but Harry Podmore has come in for the last two games and bowled fantastically well - the way we know he can bowl - and he’s got runs there as well.
“So we have good depth, not huge depth with the lack of The Hundred players, but with the squad we have got, we are very confident.”
Kent's quarter-final comes after wins in back-to-back encounters at The Spitfire Ground in Canterbury against Yorkshire and Lancashire edged them into the knock-out stages as they came third in their group.
All-rounder Grant Stewart hit a last-ball six to give the Spitfires a three-wicket win over Yorkshire Vikings last Friday before they won in the last over again against Lancashire on Tuesday at the same venue, Harry Podmore crashing the penultimate ball to the ropes.
After a poor start against Lancashire, Blake (81) top-scored amid a 105-run stand with Stevens to help them get to their target of 296.
Kent have won three of their last four matches, with the other encounter being abandoned without a ball bowled.
Blake said: “We have still got a really good side.
"I know we are missing quite a few to The Hundred but we looked at the start of the campaign and we thought we had got more than enough here to have a really good run at this competition.
“We started well at Worcestershire and then lost a few, but we have bounced back pretty well in two really close games. It shows good character from the boys to get over the line.
"We are still confident and there’s still a long way to go yet.”
Blake is now hoping the side can use that momentum in the knock-out stages, saying: “Absolutely.
“People always talk about momentum in sport don’t they, and peaking at the right time. Hopefully we are in that position now.
“We have got to keep doing our basics well.”
Two players who have certainly played their part in Kent’s recent wins are Italy international Stewart and batsman Harry Finch.
On the duo, 33-year-old Blake said: “Grant has worked tirelessly at his batting. I’m sure you have heard how hard he works.
“We knew with him being there, with Finchy being a bit of the glue, we had a chance. Finchy is a great player, used to playing higher up the order.
“He played his role brilliantly as well so we have got confidence. Teams seem to bat all the way down now.
“I was, obviously, frustrated to get out and I left a bit to do but it’s great to have players like that coming in behind you.”
With Stevens set to leave at the end of the campaign, Blake also spoke about what it would mean for the side if they could send him out on a high after a 17-year stint with the club.
Blake said: “I think it would be brilliant, wouldn’t it? I think everyone at the club would love that - fans, committee, [the] board and all the players.
“Everyone loves Stevo. ‘Stevo is God’, as that banner says, so it would be great to send him out on a high.”
In the Royal London One-Day Cup this term, Blake has scored more than 250 runs, including three half-centuries for Kent.
