ESSEX Eagles start the defence of the Friends Provident Trophy today when they host Northamptonshire Steelbacks.

And first XI coach Paul Grayson has revealed the county are desperate to make it a return to Lord's this summer to secure the trophy again.

"The player’s are determined to get to Lord’s once again," Grayson said ahead of the match, which starts at 10.45am.

"Getting to the final last year was fantastic – we are very determined to win it again.

"As a team we are there to be shot at this season as we are now seen as one of the best one day sides in the country”.

And Grayson said the pressure that is now on the team as Essex start the season with a clean slate.

“Last year is history," he added. "Teams will come to Chelmsford ready to give us a game, it is now up to us to raise our game even further”.

Essex squad: Mark Pettini (Captain), Alastair Cook, Jason Gallian, Jaik Mickleburgh, Matthew Walker, Grant Flower, James Foster (wk), Ryan ten Doeschate, James Middlebrook, Chris Wright, David Masters, Maurice Chambers, Tony Palladino, Jahid Ahmed, Varun Chopra.