Worcestershire Rapids Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes is looking for his players to produce their 'A game' in tonight's crucial NatWest T20 Blast North Group clash with Derbyshire Falcons at New Road (5.30pm start).
Rhodes believes the bottom placed Falcons could be "a dangerous animal" as the Rapids look for the win which would take all the different mathematical possibilities out of the equation and seal a quarter-final spot for the second time in three years.
The Rapids also still have a chance of booking a home tie if they win and Nottinghamshire Outlaws lose away to Yorkshire Vikings and they win although there would have to be a big turnaround in the net run rate.
Equally the Rapids could lose out on the last eight if they go under and Birmingham Bears defeated Leicestershire at Edgbaston although again a big swing in run-rate would be needed for that to happen.
Rhodes said: "Derbyshire haven't won many this year but that makes them a dangerous animal because in Twenty20 cricket anyone can beat anyone on the day.
"We are going to have to make sure we are up for that one and we play as good as our 'A' game or as near to it as possible.
"We'd love to actually qualify through getting points ourselves and a win but we are not going to count our chickens.
"We know we need to stick to the things we've done well in Twenty20 cricket and if we do, we've got a great chance of winning.
"They ran us close at Derby and in many ways that sort of victory there was one of those we could have lost.
"But that's what decent sides can do, when you are not quite playing at your best, and maybe Leicestershire at home in the four-day game was an example, and you still come away with a win.
"That's a sign of a good team or a side playing with a bit of confidence because they are managing to win games when they don't quite nail it."
Rhodes added: "It is a massive game but I think the run rate is an important thing as well.
"I understand there is quite a big turnaround required by Warwickshire if they were to win and we were to lose. Quite a few runs difference needs to happen.
"We are not thinking of going into the game and getting beaten. We are going to go into that game and try our best to win.
"But it's a game of Twenty20, you do win and you d lose, and if we manage to qualify by whatever means, wherever it's run-rate or we've got the points we require, then that's all that matters to us at this stage is qualification."
A large crowd is expected this evening to see if the Rapids can seal that quarter-final position.
Rhodes said: "They always get behind the team and our boys like playing in front of big crowds and enjoy playing in front of our own supporters.
"We'll just be giving it our best shot."
