THE stakes could hardly be higher for a NatWest T20 Blast match Tim Bresnan already classes as top dollar in English domestic cricket.

“For a county cricketer, Roses T20 at home is the biggest fixture of the year, definitely,” said Yorkshire’s interim captain ahead of tomorrow’s televised 6.30pm start.

“It’s the only time we get a full house at Headingley.”

Yorkshire and Lancashire go into the sold out clash in stuttering T20 form.

They both sit outside the North Group’s top four qualifying places for the quarter-finals on eleven points from as many games.

It is not quite winner takes all, but not far off.

With only two left to play after this, defeat for either side would be a significant nail in the coffin, if not the final one.

“The boys will be up and about for that game, for sure,” continued Bresnan, whose side are hoping to break a three-game losing streak which has seen them drop from top place to fifth.

“If you’re not, you don’t deserve to be playing the game.

“A win would massively kick start things for us after a disappointing week last week.

“Our form is good at home (nine T20 wins in their last eleven matches at Headingley dating back to the start of last year).

“Hopefully we manage to get on the right side of it and pick up the two points.”

These two sides tied the first meeting of the campaign at Emirates Old Trafford last month when rain intervened with Yorkshire 64-2 after 8.1 overs chasing 177.

It would have been a humdinger of a finish, with Bresnan accepting: “A fair result was reached in the end.”

Everything will be happening at 100mph tomorrow, both on the field and off it, especially in the raucous White Rose Stand - the Western Terrace in old money.

But captain Bresnan is confident he will be able to keep a cool head and marshal his troops well.

“You actually get sheltered a little from all the noise and what’s happening in the stands when you’re out in the middle, especially as a captain,” he said.

“To be fair, I’ve never really felt it when I’ve been bowling either.

“The most serene part of the whole place is probably in the inner ring.”

While Yorkshire have lost their last three to Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Durham to slip from table-toppers to fifth place, Lancashire have only won one of their last five, losing three.

The White Rose welcome back Australian batsman Shaun Marsh following his week out with the concussion injury he suffered batting against Derbyshire at Headingley last Thursday.

Liam Plunkett is also in line to play only his third Blast match of the season following groin and, most recently, hamstring injuries.

Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed will get his first taste of Roses cricket having signed his overseas deal for the second half of the Blast.

He has already played two games and will come up against Champions Trophy-winning international team-mate Junaid Khan.

“Saffa has come in and is a great player,” added Bresnan.

“He’s also a lovely lad. He loves the boys already, is a great character and just loves the banter.”

Meanwhile, former Yorkshire, England and Bradford League off-spinner Geoff Cope has released a new book, In Sunshine and In Shadow.

Cope and author Stephen Chalke launched the book, published by Fairfield Books, at this week’s Scarborough Festival.

Cope, now registered blind with deteriorating vision, has been involved with Yorkshire as a popular player and administrator for more than 50 years. The book is priced at £16.