Matt Prior has already seen himself playing in the C&G Trophy final at Lord's.

So have several of his colleagues, come to that.

It is called visualising and the Sussex wicketkeeper batsman reckons it is all part of the perfect preparation.

Playing in a Lord's final is a new experience for Sussex's array of one-county players.

The most experienced of them, James Kirtley, was looking forward to a wicket-laden tour of Barbados with Sussex Young Cricketers (24 in 100 overs, in fact, at 14.7 apiece) when the seniors were last in a final 13 years ago.

But Prior has played out as many possible scenarios on the big day as he can.

If you have not got the technique, the ability or the fitness, it is a bit late to develop them now.

But what goes through a player's mind in the days, hours and minutes leading up to action can make all the difference.

Prior said: "As much of your preparation is done at home thinking about the game and getting it mentally right as is done in the nets.

"You are visualising who you are going to be playing against, situations you might face, the type of bowling.

"Some of the young guys have not played in front of a big crowd so that is going to be a first-time experience for them.

"They are going to have to start visualising that and how it might affect them.

"I know it's a bit of a cliche but this is just another game of cricket.

"We will prepare exactly the same as we do for every game but the feeling in the camp is really positive.

"We've played Lancashire before, we've beaten them before.

"We've played at Lord's before and been very successful there so it's all positive and we are looking forward to it massively."

Sussex will hope it is not significant that, whereas Lancashire had a Championship fixture in St John's Wood two months ago, Sussex have not played there for a year.

Their four-dayer away to Middlesex this year was at Southgate and they went to Richmond for a Twenty20.

Prior said: "A lot of the guys were disappointed when we saw we were playing at Southgate.

"But to play at Lord's for the first time this year in a final is fantastic.

"We know what we've got to do, we know how we've got to play and that is what is so nice.

"It's all so clear. Everyone is feeling great, bring it on."