LIAM Livingstone believes Lancashire Lightning can consider themselves strong contenders to be crowned T20 Blast champions this summer.

Lancashire get their North Group campaign underway on Thursday when they host Worcestershire Rapids at Emirates Old Trafford.

The action comes thick and fast over the weekend with a trip to Derbyshire Falcons on Friday and a home game with Northamptonshire Steelbacks on Sunday.

Livingstone, who was in the Lancashire side that lifted the trophy in 2015, is in positive mood despite his side failing to get out of the group in the two seasons since their Final’s Day triumph as well as suffering an early exit in this year’s One-Day Cup.

Asked how far his side could go this season the skipper said: “I obviously think we have the quality to win the tournament. It’s easy to say that, but I genuinely believe the white ball cricket we have been playing has been very good.

“It’s just about fine tuning certain areas. If we can win the big moments in games, I think we’ll be right up there.”

He added: “The T20 is the competition that people want to come and watch, and you play in front of the most people. I still think the Championship is the one everyone wants to win. But, definitely, white ball wise, the T20 is the one. It’s great on nights like the Yorkshire game when it’s packed. It’s what you play the game for.

“I think it’s a great competition. Even though there are 18 counties, the standard is still very high. It’s great for us to be involved in it.

“It’s definitely the competition everyone looks forward to in the middle of the summer. It’s a chance to go out with a bit of freedom and to enjoy ourselves.”

Lancashire will be boosted by the return of Australian James Faulkner, who played a key role in the victory three years ago, and Livingstone is hoping to recreate those memories this time around.

“I think it (the 2015 win) is still probably the best day of my cricketing career up to now, and I think it will become even more fresh in the memory when James Faulkner gets over here,” added the Red Rose skipper.

“It brings back that feel good factor we had that year. To bring James back into the side will be great for us to have that quality.

“All we’ve done over the last couple of years is add quality to the side, so hopefully we can mirror 2015.

“James was always our go to man. Hopefully this year we’ll be able to use him in a similar way. And I’m confident we have a few more we can go to at certain times. The white ball cricket we have played up to now has been very good in parts, which is pretty exciting for me as captain. Hopefully we can kick on and win some white ball games.

“Everyone plays the game to win trophies, and that’s what it’s all about. From the start of the T20, it will be about doing all we can to win the tournament. We’ll have a good go at it.”

Lancashire’s T20 Blast fixtures: Thursday: Worcestershire Rapids, (H) Friday: Derbyshire Falcons (A), Sunday 8 July: Northants Steelbacks (H), Saturday, July 14: Derbyshire Falcons (H), Wednesday, July 18: Leicestershire Foxes (A), Friday, July 20: Yorkshire Vikings (H), Friday, July 27: Notts Outlaws (A), Sunday, July 29: Worcestershire Rapids (A), Friday, August 3: Leicestershire Foxes (H), Tuesday, August 7: Durham Jets (H), Thursday, August 9: Yorkshire Vikings (A), Friday, August 10: Birmingham Bears (H), Sunday, August 12: Durham Jets (A), Wednesday, August 15: Birmingham Bears (A)