Tomorrow’s NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final against Gloucestershire offers the Durham Jets a shot at their second Finals Day appearance.
But it is a first for both sides in other respects, chiefly the first time the sides have met in Twenty20 cricket.
With the group stages split geographically, the Jets’ three previous quarter-finals have been trips to Northants, Hampshire and Kent.
So the hosts are something of an unknown quantity to Jon Lewis’ side, but we have profiled some important information on the hosts ahead of tomorrow’s big game.
On paper, Gloucestershire are the best team in the competiton thus far.
Their 21-point haul was one better than the Notts Outlaws, who topped the North Group, and ten wins is far superior to the other 17 sides in the NatWest T20 Blast.
As a team they have scored over 2,000 runs in the competition, which is above any team aggregate from the northern section – though they did only have one no result.
Even their defeats have been close; a one-run D/L defeat to Sussex after the Sharks made 242 & a three-run loss against Kent.
Well, they have the competition’s top two highest scorers!
Australian opener and influential skipper, Michael Klinger, leads the way as the only man to eclipse 500 runs thus far.
Klinger has passed three figures once, scoring 101 against Somerset, while also smashing 95* from 57 balls against Essex.
Three other half-centuries and three not outs contribute to a lofty average of 53, bettered only by team mate Ian Cockbain.
The Liverpudlian has proven to be a perfect foil after the fall of the opening wicket, scoring 499 runs from number three at an average of 62.37.
Due to the lightning start provided by the above two alongside Hamish Marshall, they have successfully chased a target down eight times while defending a total twice.
Not only do Gloucestershire have the highest-scoring batsmen, they have the highest wicket-taker in Benny Howell.
The all-rounder’s middle-overs have yielded 23 wickets at a lowly economy rate of just 6.69 per over, making him a dangerous prospect who can tie teams down.
Howell is backed up at the top of the innings by Matt Taylor (13 wickets) while Australian seamer Andrew Tye often delivers the ‘death’ overs at the end with an effective mix of slower balls and yorkers.
Tye may have come from down under but is a familiar face around the North East, having plied his trade with Chester-le-Street between 2007-2012.
The spin option comes from slow left-armer Tom Smith while Jack Taylor, brother of opening bowler Matt, is back in contention after his bowling ban for a suspect action was lifted following remedial work.
Gloucestershire’s wicketkeeping conundrum is to be resolved by 19-year-old Patrick Grieshaber.
Regular ‘keeper Gareth Roderick has a broken finger and Phil Mustard is ineligible to play against his parent club following a loan move.
It means Grieshaber will take the gloves, with a Royal London One-Day Cup appearance against Sussex his only first team action in 2016.
The Jets will need to bring their ‘A’ game to the Brightside Ground but know this is not an impossible task.
Gloucester’s three defeats in this year’s Blast have all come at home turf in Bristol, albeit by fine margins.
And Durham will have to better their last three quarter-final performances on the road to reach Finals Day for the second time.
Live coverage of the game comes via Sky Sports with regular updates available via our Twitter account, @DurhamCricket.