GLOUCESTERSHIRE's Jon Lewis is hoping Yorkshire retain their professionalism and give his side a chance of qualifying for the Clydesdale Bank 40 semi-finals.

The county must win at Northamptonshire today (12.45pm) and hope Yorkshire beat Essex at Headingley.

If that happens Lewis and his team-mates will rise from third to second in their group, which would be enough to reach the last four.

What counts against Gloucestershire is that Yorkshire are already through and guaranteed a home semi-final while Essex know they need to win to progress.

"In county cricket, teams who have to win generally do so," said Lewis.

"We need to win at Northampton and we need Yorkshire to beat Essex. It is as simple as that really, and unfortunately Yorkshire won this week and they have already got a home draw.

"They have also lost a couple of their international players – Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad – to England duty, so Yorkshire will be up against it really. But they are a pretty good side.

"Hopefully they will want to make sure they keep momentum going into the semi-finals because that is a pretty big thing."

And Lewis is warning that victory at Wantage Road for his side will be no formality in any case.

"They are not an easy side to beat on their home patch," he said.

"I imagine the wicket will turn and I think they will play on the same wicket they played on in the CB40 this week, so I foresee it being quite a tough game for us. We should win though."

Gloucestershire have spent the second part of this week coming to terms with their shock 54-run defeat to Derbyshire at Bristol, which has left their Championship promotion dream in tatters.

Lewis said: "The guys will take a lot of picking up from it. They will have to show some real resilience and character because it is a really unfathomable loss."

Skipper Alex Gidman does not see the CB40 as a chance for redemption, but wants to win nevertheless.

"We have obviously got to chuck everything into it and take the frustration out of the performance into it and try to come out with a win and at least give ourselves the best chance of getting a semi-final place," he said.

Gloucestershire (from): Porterfield, Gidman (capt), Marshall, C Taylor, Franklin, Snell, J Taylor, Young, Dent, Batty, Dawson, Lewis, Kirby, Ireland, Hussain, Banerjee, Payne.