ASK Peter Handscomb if he believes Yorkshire have what it takes to win this season's NatWest T20 Blast and you will get a straightforward answer: Definitely.

The Australian batsman is hoping the Vikings will again prove why when they take on Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford tonight (7pm).

They have already done it once in their first three matches, on opening night against Nottinghamshire at Headingley last Friday when a record-breaking 227-5 helped them win at a canter.

Unfortunately since then, things have not quite worked out. They lost their second game at Derbyshire on Saturday and that was followed by Tuesday's washout against defending champions Northamptonshire.

"After that first performance, we know we can score 227," said Handscomb, with the Yorkshire squad having been urged to aim for 240 this season by captain Tim Bresnan.

"If we play at our best and do that, we can beat any team. Hopefully we play like that against Lancashire. It was Yorkshire's record-breaking score and that's just awesome.

"It's something we've been talking about in the rooms. We've been looking at all the statistics regarding where guys bat well and have the most impact. The plan that night worked perfectly.

"We were unlucky not to go two from two in the second game. We definitely had the chance. Had we fielded or batted better, we'd have won.

"But you will lose games as T20 is fickle. It only takes one player to win a match. Unfortunately we didn't get the win that day but it went down to the last ball and was still entertaining to play in.

"On a different day, Brez hits the last ball for four and we're all cheering and carrying on. There's no need to worry at all."

Yorkshire are unbeaten in three matches against Lancashire this season – two in the County Championship and one in the Royal London Cup.

They won both the 50-over and Championship clashes at Headingley and, as Handscomb says: "Hopefully we can complete the set and get wins in all three forms."

The 26-year-old Aussie is no stranger to a derby, having played in the Melbourne version in the Big Bash for the Stars.

"The Stars and Renegades is quite a big rivalry. We've had 80,000 in at the MCG, which is pretty cool," said the part-time wicketkeeper.

"But it will be a different crowd up north and I dare say over in Manchester they'll let us know about it. That's part of it. It's going to be awesome."

Handscomb has scored two Yorkshire centuries so far, including one in the second innings of the draw at Old Trafford in May.

He hit 21 off seven balls in the Notts win and said: "I've been feeling all right. It's not always about massive scores.

"If you feel like you can affect the game in a positive way for your team, you have done a job. I'm feeling good. More importantly, the group is as well."

Handscomb has played nine Championship matches so far this season but he is unsure whether he will play any more.

He is due to travel to Bangladesh with Australia's Test team in late August/early September but the contractual dispute between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association over revenue sharing is threatening the tour.

A pre-tour training camp is planned in Australia, starting on August 9 – the final day of Yorkshire's next Championship match against Essex at Scarborough.

It could yet be that Handscomb, who insists the uncertainty in Australian cricket has not affected his game, is with Yorkshire for the rest of the summer.

He said: "There's still not a lot of clarity. There's still no agreement between CA and ACA. It's a big few days and I'll know more then whether I'm going home or staying.

"The playing group have 100 per cent faith in ACA, our players' association. They've been absolutely amazing.

"We know they have our best interests and will be fighting tooth and nail for that, which means we can step away from those discussions and focus on our own games."

The return Roses clash at Headingley on August 11 in the T20 Blast has been declared a 16,000 sell-out.