SLEAFORD captain Oliver Burford believes his side could snatch the ECB Premier League title – but admits the weather could dampen their hopes.

With four weekends left, the league is set for one of the tightest finishes it has seen in years. Four teams are still within striking distance of leaders Bourne.

One of those teams are fourth-placed Sleaford who have been on an excellent run of late. They are unbeaten in six games, with four victories and two games abandoned.

Sleaford travel to Grimsby, who are sixth, tomorrow and if everything goes to plan, Burford hopes the London Road-based club's final match of the season at home to Bourne on September 18 will be a mouth-watering title shootout.

"We've definitely got to believe we can win the title," said the wicket-keeper, who is returning to his former club tomorrow, having left Grimsby to join Sleaford at the start of last season.

"We've got Bourne on the final game of the season and it would be great for that to be a title-decider.

"Hopefully we can win our last four games and then the other teams will slip up.

"Hopefully Bourne will drop points and Bracebridge won't get the victories they need.

"The main problem will be the weather, as if just one of our final four games is abandoned then it will be very hard for us to win the title.

"I'm quite worried about this weekend's match. I know from my time at Grimsby that the ground doesn't drain well.

"We've been having so much rain this week, that even with the covers on, it might not be fit to play."

Burford is delighted with his side's form which mirrored last season where they went on a superb run to move from the lower reaches of the table to a fourth-placed finish.

"We ended the season well last year, winning eight games in a row, and we seem to being doing the same again this year," he said.

"I don't know why that is, but we just seem to click as the season goes on.

"We finished fourth last season and we are looking like we have improved this year."

Elsewhere in the division, Skegness, who are directly above Sleaford, are at home to Lindum.

Champions Bracebridge Heath, now in second place, travel to Louth, fresh from their success in the ECB Twenty20 Area Final, while Bourne are at home to 11th-placed Boston.

Hartsholme, who are still within catching distance of Boston, also travel south to Market Deeping whose late surge sees them challenging for a place in the top six.

Above Boston are Woodhall Spa who appear to be out of relegation danger but will need a good performance to get the better of fifth-placed Nettleham.