Skipper Sam Northeast wants Kent to continue their blistering early-season form when the Royal London One-Day Cup campaign starts in Canterbury on Thursday.

Kent have won all three games in the Specsavers County Championship Division 2 to stake a strong early-season claim for promotion.

Northeast believes Kent are possibly the best-placed team in the country to begin their white-ball campaign with the visit of Hampshire to the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence (11am).

Kent lost five of their eight games in the Super Regional 50-over competition in the West Indies on Kent’s FGS Plant Tour in January and February, failing to make the knockout stages, however Northeast said: “We were playing white ball cricket not too long ago so it is still kind of fresh.

“We have probably played more white ball than anybody this winter so having it so early in the season is a bit more beneficial to us.

“We have won three out of three and we couldn’t have asked for a better start, though it would have been nice to have another Championship game as we’d have liked to keep it going.

“I think we can carry the winning mentality and confidence into the different format. There is a good feel about the place.”

Kent lost narrowly in the quarter-final to Yorkshire last summer and Northeast added: “I have no doubt we can be there or thereabouts again. It’s up to us to identify the key moments in matches, be it with bat or ball, and make sure we win those moments.

“We have an ambitious bunch of players who want to win trophies. Our preparation has been brilliant and we can go out and express ourselves. It would be nice to start like we have done the Championship and establish ourselves near the top of the table.

“Hampshire are a good side and have started well in Division 1. It will be tough but we are a good white ball side.”

Kent head to Taunton on Tuesday (11am) to face Somerset in their second game and Northeast added: “They won’t have Chris Gayle, which is a bonus. We have done quite well down there recently and hopefully we can keep that run going.”

Alex Blake and Mitch Claydon are back in the squad for the Spitfires with Sean Dickson set to make way.

Despite his fine form, Northeast was overlooked by England’s selectors again, although Sam Billings was called-up to face Ireland and South Africa in a ODI series before the ICC Champions Trophy on home soil.

Northeast said: “I didn’t really expect anything, the one day side is pretty settled. It’s great news for Sam, he’s come of age, playing in these big competitions around the world.”