OPENER Daryl Mitchell is relishing the prospect of a home semi-final for Worcestershire Rapids in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

The Rapids made sure of their first semi-final appearance for 13 years after Tuesday's five-wicket win over Derbyshire Falcons at the 3aaa County Ground.

That secured top spot in the North Group for the Rapids and completed a trio of wins in the space of five days after the home triumphs over Warwickshire and Durham Jets.

Mitchell, who has scored three half centuries in six knocks in the competition, said: "The home game is important for the club financially.

"To get a big crowd in at New Road for a knockout game is always exciting.

"But from our point of view as players, we know those conditions, we know our own wickets.

"Anyone who comes down to New Road, we will back ourselves if we perform to the best of our ability to give them a good game."

Mitchell, the former captain, has seen Worcestershire gradually improve in the 50-over competition in recent seasons.

He said: "I think it has been slowly building over the last two or three years.

"We've picked up some big scalps, away to Yorkshire, away at Trent Bridge, away at Edgbaston in that period.

"We are showing a lot more maturity and a lot more fight and a lot more confidence.

"That comes from winning a lot of games this year so to never feel you are out of the game with the quality we've got in the squad."