Craig Spearman is adamant Gloucestershire can transfer their stunning form in four-day and 50-over cricket to the Twenty20 Cup.

The Gladiators host Warwickshire Bears in the game's shortest format today (5.30pm), aiming to salvage some pride from a poor campaign that has yielded only one win from five matches.

Spearman and company secured a third win in four Championship matches against Middlesex on Saturday, stretching their lead at the top of Division Two to 22 points.

The veteran New Zealander deputised as captain for Alex Gidman, who was forced to pull out due to back spasms and remains a doubt for this evening's game.

"That was a good Middlesex side we've beaten and I can't remember us having any bad periods in the match," said Spearman.

"The guys are playing winning cricket, so I really can't pinpoint why we haven't done so well in Twenty20.

"I guess it's not important to know a reason but we would like to win a good number of games leading up to the Friends Provident Trophy semi-final (at Sussex) on July 5. Winning some white-ball cricket will be important with that game in the back of our minds."

Gloucestershire CCC followers are again hailing the impact of director of cricket John Bracewell, having waited an astonishing 19 months for a Championship victory prior to his return this season.

But Spearman believes the recruitment of another Kiwi – all-rounder James Franklin – has been equally significant in the side's transformation.

"It's largely the same players as last year but with the exception of a strong all-rounder who gives us another genuine bowling option," he said.

"James takes the pressure off the other guys, in that they can bowl fewer overs and don't feel they have to get wickets all the time. The workload is shared. Having a left-arm spinner in Vikram Banerjee also gives a better balance to the side, and a balanced team gives whoever is captain a lot of confidence."

Franklin will play his first domestic Twenty20 game of the campaign today, having been on international duty.