The KZN Dolphins will be hoping to improve on their runners-up spot in the T20 Knock Out tournament when they start their T20 Challenge campaign in Gqeberha on Tuesday.

The Dolphins were beaten by the Free State Knights in the T20 Knock Out final in October.

The T20 Challenge, which began on Monday, replaced the Mzanzi Super League and only features the eight Division One teams.

The Dolphins will need to get into T20 mode quickly, having played four-day cricket recently.

“From a skills perspective, I don’t see the change as too much of an issue,” said coach Imraan Khan. “It’s really just about covering the T20-specific skills, such as death bowling and power hitting.

“The boys are always keen for white-ball cricket and the training that comes with a white-ball tournament. In terms of being prepared, I think we will be fine.”

Khan expects the pitches at St George’s Park to be good for batting early in the tournament.

“They will probably wear down as the tournament goes on,” he added. “We will have to cover the various scenarios in our preparation.

“I think spin bowling will be quite important, as it is in any white-ball competition, so we will have to adapt, but I think there will be good batting conditions to start.”

With a match almost every two days, the tournament will be intense from the outset.

“In any competition, you want to start well and as a team, I think we have been able to do that in the last few white-ball competitions,” said Khan.

“It’s important to start well but if it doesn’t happen that way it’s important that we maintain our processes and believe in those processes.”

KZN Dolphins squad: Prenelan Subrayen, Dave Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keegan Petersen, Marques Ackerman, Thando Ntini, Daryn Dupavillon, Khaya Zondo, Grant Roelofsen, Kerwin Mungroo, Eathan Bosch, Odirile Modimokane, Jason Smith, Ruan de Swardt, Bryce Parsons, Ottniel Baartman.