Fell (far left) has kept faith with his young side

Director of cricket Mark Fell is confident that Lincolnshire can begin their Minor Counties championship campaign with a victory.

They go into their opening three-day match against Staffordshire at Sleaford on Sunday having won all four group matches in the MCCA Knock-Out Trophy.

Fell told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: "This side is as good as I've seen it over the last five or ten years.

"They're a good set of lads and they're starting to mature together now."

Despite being the leading run scorer in the Lincolnshire Premier League this season with over 600 runs to his name, Fell insists that he never considered returning to play for the County side.

"That would be a backward step," he admitted.

We're always up for Staffordshire, it couldn't be a better first game for us. Director of Cricket Mark Fell

And the former Lincolnshire captain believes they will be a force to be reckoned with in this season's Minor Counties Eastern division if they maintain their current form.

"All we have to do is take the principles from the one-day game into it," Fell said.

"We're always up for Staffordshire, it couldn't be a better first game for us."

Play at Sleaford is scheduled to begin at 1100 BST on Sunday 10 June.