SHAUN Tait says Essex's in-form bowling attack will give them the edge over their rivals at Finals Day tomorrow.

The lethally quick fast bowler is a part of a unit which features the consistency of David Masters, the cunning of Graham Napier, and the exuberance of Reece Topley.

Tait has 16 wickets in this year's Twenty20 at an average of 15, with his best figures of 4-29 - featuring a memorable hat-trick - playing a crucial role in booking the Eagles' place at Edgbaston with a stunning quarter-final win at Nottinghamshire.

"I've never played in a Finals Day before and I'm sure it will be an incredible experience," said the 30-year-old, who counts Test caps and a World Cup title with Australia in 2007 among his achievements.

"Northants in the first game are a bit of an unknown for us because they won another group.

"But we have a bowling attack here which is made to deal with any match situation. And we're confident and ready."

Eagles' talismanic all-rounder Ravi Bopara was also in confident mood but said they were steeled for a tough match against Midlands group winners Northants tomorrow morning.

He said: "We expect Northants to be a smart and disciplined team. They probably have not got the match winners that we have got but match winners don't matter if they don't perform.

"And they have some good players so we won't be taking our eye off them, but we will focus on ourselves."

Bopara was also clear on who he would like to meet in the final, should they get through.

He said: "We've lost three times against Hampshire this year, so I wouldn't mind Surrey!

"Hampshire have played in a lot more finals than Surrey, they are good at what they do, and they've probably got the wood over us this season. So hopefully it will be Surrey."

It will be Essex's fourth Twenty20 Finals Day, but they've always fallen at the semi-final stage.

The Eagles booked their spot with a convincing win over pre-tournament favourites and northern group winners Nottinghamshire in a quarter final at Trent Bridge.

They also come into this game on the back or a morale boosting win over Durnham in the YB40 on Tuesday night.

Essex squad: Rutherford, Smith, Pettini, Bopara, Ten Doeschate, Foster, Napier, Phillips, Masters, Tait, Topley, Mills, Mahmood, Mickleburgh, Foakes.