ENGLAND'S latest star Samit Patel feels Notts have what it takes to clinch their first one-day trophy since 1991.

With two games of their Pro40 Division One season left, the team have their fate in their own hands.

Two wins out of two in matches at Trent Bridge against Lancashire tonight and Sussex on Sunday will see Notts claim the title.

That would be their first piece of limited-overs silverware since winning the Sunday League in the era of Tom Robinson, Derek Randall and Chris Broad.

All-rounder Patel, who has scored 99 runs and taken six wickets in five matches in-between international duty against South Africa, is determined to make the most of the opportunity.

"We needed to win two out of our last three to be in with a chance and we have made a good start by beating Middlesex," he said.

"Now we know if we win the last two it doesn't matter what anyone else does, we will win the title.

"We all firmly believe we can do it and if we beat Lancashire, it will really give us confidence. The boys can't wait for the game.

"Freddie (Andrew Flintoff) can't play but they have a lot of other good, experienced players.

"Stuart Law is a class player who has been there and done it and people like Glen Chapple and Gary Keedy have been around for a long while.

"It's just like the Leicestershire game in the Twenty20 when we needed to win and they were down near the bottom.

"We ended up losing that one and we don't want to do that again, so it's important we get off to a good start whether we're batting or bowling.

"Our bowlers have been doing a good job in all the games and now we just have to make sure the batsmen do their bit as well."

Patel became the first English spinner to take five wickets in a one-day international since Ashley Giles seven years ago when he claimed 5-41 against South Africa at the Oval.

The former Worksop College player admits it has been strange coming back into county cricket after his international exploits.

But he showed he has not let that affect him by bowling a crucial eight-over spell of 2-40 to help ease Notts to the 19-run victory over Middlesex at Lord's on Sunday.

Patel said: "The intensity of it is the main difference, together with the crowds.

"The good thing is I have come back to a team who are challenging on two fronts in the Pro40 and the Championship.

"I felt Swanny (Graeme Swann, who took 3-27) and I bowled pretty well against Middlesex.

"The wicket wasn't the best (Notts scored 180, and the hosts just 161) and we always knew that with our total we had a chance as long as we got early wickets, which we did."

Director of cricket Mick Newell hopes his side can take advantage of their fortune with the weather, having completed all six matches so far.

Lancashire, by contrast, have had four of their six fixtures abandoned.

Newell said: "The rain has played a big part in this year's competition but we have managed to get all our matches done.

"On Sunday we were the only game to get finished, but now we have to make sure we push on from that.

"Lancashire still have something to play for. They will not want to go down, even if this competition is not going to be around for much longer."

Notts squad: Jefferson, Swann, Wagh, Prince, Patel, Shafayat, Read, Franks, Ealham, Adams, Shreck, Pattinson, Wood.