DARYL Mitchell has no intention of making his current contract his last at Worcestershire despite still having three years to run.

The 34-year-old elder statesman is about to embark on his 14th first-class campaign at New Road and insists he feels as fresh and motivated as ever.

And with such a bounty of experience to call upon the ever-popular opener feels well equipped to take the rough with the smooth.

“I am still enjoying it and looking forward to the season. I had a good year in 2017 personally and as a team we had success,” said Mitchell.

“There is still three years left on my contract and I am more than happy to see through those. If the body allows me to and I am doing a good enough job, I will try to keep playing.

“I am looking forward to the challenges ahead and still feel I have a lot of years in me.

“You probably don’t get as nervous as you do as a 20-year-old. You relish the challenges and there are no unknowns once you’ve been there and done it.

“You tend not to worry so much about the bad patches that everyone gets, you know you will come out the other side of it provided you keep putting in the work.

“That experience lets you enjoy things and relax that little bit more.”

Past promotions have been followed by just-as-swift relegations at New Road but Mitchell makes a strong case for the current crop to show enough with the ball to get into the best the top tier has to offer.

“In comparison to previous teams, our seam bowling attack has a lot more depth to it. If you want to win games you have to take 20 wickets so that is really important,” he added.

“The likes of Joe Leach, Ed Barnard and Josh Tongue had fantastic seasons with Steve Magoffin coming in and the experience of Jack Shantry and Charlie Morris waiting in the wings with some younger prospects coming through.

“That will give us a big opportunity to win games.

“There will be a lot of responsibility on me, Joe Clarke and Travis Head as the three most senior batters to get the bulk of the runs but we have good back-up as well.

“There is strength in both departments and there is a really good opportunity to compete with some of the best sides in the country.

“It is always tough in Division One. You have to be one of the best six teams in the country just to stay up now and that is no mean feat.

“We will have some tough times this season, no doubt, but I feel very positive and if we perform to the best of our ability then we certainly have a good chance of competing with any team.”