Devon's Western Division title credentials will get their toughest test so far when they face Cheshire at Sidmouth.
Cheshire arrive at the Fortfield on Sunday as defending Minor Counties champions, having won the Western Division last year and then gone on to beat Eastern Division winners Cambridgeshire in the play-off game.
Devon defeated Dorset inside two days in their opening game of the season and followed up with another two-day win over Oxfordshire second time out to sit a point behind leaders Wiltshire.
Keith Donohue, Devon's director of cricket, isn't an enthusiast for talking up the opposition but accepts Cheshire will be more of a test than the first two games.
"We saw last year that Cheshire are an accomplished side with some experienced players, which we don't have so many of," said Donohue.
"To beat them we will have to be at the top of our game – but to beat us they will have to do the same.
"With Josh (Bess) at the helm and setting all the right examples with bat and ball, we are playing with a lot of confidence right now.
"I know Cheshire won the last time we played, but that was after we lost nearly two of the three days to rain and the skippers tried to make a game of what was left. Cheshire will see a different Devon this time."
Donohue has named the same 12 that travelled to Banbury for the nine-wicket win over Oxfordshire two weeks ago, with the same dilemma over who to leave out.
Up-and-coming pace bowler Jack Popham grabbed his debut chance against Oxfordshire with both hands to take five for 50 in the match.
"Jack is raw but has enormous spirit, aggression and enthusiasm for the job of fast bowling," said Donohue.
"He will be a quality bowler, but that isn't always enough. You need to have a certain attitude to be a success – the will to impose yourself on batsmen – and I think he has it.
"Richard Kaufman swatted the first two balls Jack bowled in Minors cricket for six. Jack got him out next over with a peach of a ball. That's a measure of the lad."
It would appear to be a toss-up again between spinners Charlie Miles and Will Squire as to who starts against Cheshire. Miles got the nod against Oxfordshire.
Donohue isn't about to tinker with the batting order, giving a public vote of confidence in opener James Toms.
Toms has been out cheaply in two of his three knocks for Devon this season, not that Donohue is concerned.
"James has been one of the most consistent run scorers in the Devon League for a while, but cricket is a funny game sometimes," said Donohue.
"Liam Lewis is having a great run at the moment, but James is having the opposite, although he will have been given a lift by scoring a ton for Plymouth in the Devon Cup on Sunday.
"You look at your team from one to 11 and say is it good enough to win the match? I am confident in who we have and their roles in the team."Devon (from): JAM Toms (Plymouth), LJ Lewis (Sidmouth), RJ Holman (Sidmouth), MW Thompson (Torquay), JJ Bess (Sidmouth), MC Golding (Bovey Tracey), MH Curtis (North Devon), TS Anning (Exmouth), BGF Green (Exeter), WD Squire (Bradninch), CL Miles (Sidmouth), JR Popham (Barnstaple & Pilton)Cheshire: C Rowe, PMR Roberts, RAL Moore, RP Jones, LF Dixon, DO Berry, AD Clarke, JJ Williams, HJ Killoran, AJ Syddall, DA Woods
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