IT has already been suggested that the Pro40 League should be renamed the P45 League, because it is about to be made redundant.

The changes to the structure of English domestic cricket from the start of the 2010 season, put forward for approval this week by the England and Wales Cricket Board, spelled the end for the 40-over competition because of the appetite for yet more Twenty20.

The penultimate year of the Pro40 League begins for Derbyshire away to Northamptonshire tomorrow (1.45pm) and so the Phantoms know that, even if they have a good campaign and win promotion, it will bring them only one season in Division One.

But the future of the competition does not make a difference to the way Derbyshire will approach it in the present, according to head of cricket John Morris.

“All competitions are important to us,” he said. “The Pro40 is here now, we're playing for it and we want to give it our best shot.

“Hopefully, we will play the cricket we are capable of and, if we are in the position at the end of the season where we can get a promotion, then great.

“It means we're doing things well and that can only breed confidence in the squad.

“It would be great if we could get on a run in this and get going. It's all about being competitive in all forms of the game.

“As it stands, this is an important competition and we want to do well in it.”

Tomorrow's match will carry an added importance for Phantoms captain Rikki Clarke, whose poor run of form led to his omission from the first team for their Championship match at Wantage Road.

“I went to see him on the first day for the seconds at Dunstall and he batted well for his 64,” added Morris.

“He had a game, got some runs and got a couple of wickets and, hopefully, he will be back ready to go again.”

Clarke will be back in the side and Dominic Telo is also set to be added, with Paul Borrington likely to make way.

Derbyshire have been more effective in limited-overs cricket than in recent times and Morris wants to see that improvement taken a step further.

“We had a good Friends Provident, although we did not qualify, and we want to take that form into this competition now. We're looking forward to another challenge,” he said.