HARD-HITTING Somerset all-rounder Roelof van der Merwe insists the side have the quality to improve upon last year’s disappointing T20 Blast campaign as they prepare for the start of this season’s competition.

Somerset’s opening group match comes on Sunday as they travel to the Oval to face Surrey, a team van der Merwe has already shone against this season having struck a superb unbeaten 165 in Somerset’s Royal London One-Day Cup victory over the London outfit in April.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, the 32-year-old told the County Gazette: “All the lads are really looking forward to it - T20 is such an exciting format to play in.

“A good start is important, as we’ve seen before that if you pick up momentum you can really start to run with it.

“On the other hand, if you begin badly it can make progress very difficult.”

Somerset have certainly found qualification difficult of late, having failed to get out the group stage since 2013 after making Finals Day every year between 2009 and 2012.

It won’t be easy this year either, as Sunday’s match is the first of four consecutive away trips in the South Group for Somerset, who don’t play at home until the visit of Gloucestershire on July 21.

Reflecting on the fixture list, a relaxed van der Merwe said: “Playing home or away is pretty identical nowadays - I don’t think it makes much difference.

“It’s always nice to play in front of your own fans, and the support we get is awesome, but we have to be capable of getting results both at home and away.”

Van der Merwe will be joined in the batting line-up by New Zealand international Corey Anderson, who is available for the duration of the tournament, and explained why he thinks the 2017 campaign will be brighter than last season.

“The belief is certainly there in the group - we know we’ve got the players to do well if we execute our plans effectively,” he said.

“I’ve never played against Corey [Anderson], but I know he’s an explosive player and I’m sure he’ll be a great person to have around.

“Hopefully his experience and quality can rub off on the rest of us and help us to a few wins.”

The spinning all-rounder began the season in Somerset’s Championship team, but has played just one four-day match since the opener and is hoping to seize the chance to impress in the shorter form of the game.

“They [T20 and Championship cricket] are very different games which require different styles, but if you are in form then it can certainly open up opportunities.”