Michael Klinger believes the confidence Gloucestershire gained from winning a one-day trophy last season will help make them more competitive in the NatWest T20 Blast.

The campaign begins with a home match against Sussex tomorrow night, the first under the new floodlights at the Brightside Ground, Bristol.

Klinger, who flew back from Australia after a six-week break from cricket on Monday evening, is looking for an improvement on last year’s efforts, which were not good enough to clinch a place in the knock-out stages.

“That certainly has to be the aim this season,” he said. “It’s a realistic target because we improved as a group over the course of last summer.

“Not many people outside the club expected us to win the Royal London Cup. But that memory is still pretty fresh and the players can take huge confidence from it.

“We are looking forward to some fantastic occasions under our new floodlights. And if we can get half the support we received at Lord’s for the 50-over final it will be amazing.”

New overseas signing Andrew Tye is still involved in the Indian Premier League, but is expected to be available for Gloucestershire’s second group match against Middlesex on June 2.

Klinger recommended his Western Australia and Perth Scorchers team-mate and is looking forward to having him in the side.

Liam Norwell is ruled out of the Sussex match by what the club describe as a medical condition, while Will Tavare is still struggling to overcome a knee injury suffered in pre-season.

But all-rounder Benny Howell is fully fit again after a back problem and, in the absence of Tye, fellow Australian Cameron Bancroft could play as second overseas player tomorrow.

Last season’s corresponding fixture featured an amazing finish when, with Gloucestershire looking certain winners, Luke Wright launched a savage attack on James Fuller, who conceded 28 runs from five deliveries and was then ordered out of the attack for two beamers in an over.

Sussex won after needing 77 from the last four overs and Gloucestershire head coach Richard Dawson admits: “I still have nightmares about it!”

Dawson will be hoping his bowlers keep a tighter rein on their opponents this time around as his team look to build on their Championship win over Glamorgan this week.

“It may be a different format, but that victory has put an extra spring in everyone’s step,” he said. “It is also great having Michael Klinger back so we can go into the game in confident mood.”