Lehmann's focus on Kent challenge as Northants prepare for crucial home double header

The club is gearing up for what could be a pivotal few days in their bid to return to the top table of English cricket.

Thursday sees Northants host second-placed Kent at the cinch County Ground, before welcoming Ben Stokes' table-topping Durham just six days later (Sept 2).

They are two huge games in the race for a top two finish, but Lehmann knows the only match that matters right now is this week's showdown with a Kent side sitting one place and just four points above third-placed Northants in the table.

The County stayed on Kent's coat-tails thanks to their thumping 316-run win over Lancashire at Old Trafford on Sunday, a result that was crucial as Kent saw off Middlesex and Durham thrashed Derbyshire. The north east side look nailed on for the title as they sit 30 points clear.

"We park this game now, and look forward to the Kent game," Lehmann told BBC Northampton.

"They won again so it is now all about how you play in the last five games, and we want to start that block really well."

Prior to the trip to Manchester, Lehmann had said he felt three wins out of the final six fixtures could be enough to secure promotion.

But after a weekend when all the main challengers won again, he admitted: "It really all depends who you play and who you win against!

"For us, we have two big games coming up against Kent and Durham who are right in the pack.

"So we are going to have to play well in those games, and then who knows what happens from there? But it is going to be tight.

"The advantage of winning a game is that if gives you a bit more breathing space, because you are not going to play every game as you would like, we know that.

"We just have to be consistent enough and stick to what we do and what we do well and see how we go.

"The next two games we are at home and we know the conditions really well which is an advantage.

"But at the weekend we played away and won and it doesn't mean much come ball one on Thursday.

"We just have to make sure we are right up for it."

The win over Lancashire was Northants' fourth Championship win of the season, and a 19th victory in all formats this summer, which is the best the club has managed since 2013.

Back then, David Ripley's side secured 22 wins as they won the Blast and then sealed promotion from division two.

So, with the Blast trophy already in the cabinet, is Lehmann looking to repeat that trick?

"That is our goal," said Lehmann. "If we get to 22 wins then that will be three more from the last five games.

"If we do that then you would think we would be pretty close (to promotion), but for us it Is all about concentrating on the next game against Kent, and then we can worry about Durham after that.

"We can't look too far ahead and that is what we have done all year.

"We have mixed and matched our side where possible, and depending on conditions we will probably have to do the same this week."

When Northants and Kent met earlier in the season at Canterbury, the match ended in a draw.

Northants racked up a huge 684 for two declared, with Luke Procter hitting 261 not out, Calvin Harrison 153, Ricardo Vasconcelos 127 and Nathan McSweeney 101 not out.

Kent were then rushed out for 178 and although Northants enforced the follow on, the home side survived as they batted out 91 overs to finish on 253 for five in their second innings

Play is due to start at 11am at Wantage Road on Thursday.