Skipper Sam Billings believes Kent are a better team than they have shown so far this season.

They moved off the foot of the County Championship Division 1 table on Sunday with a draw against Hampshire at Canterbury but have won just once in their opening five games.

Billings says his side learnt a lot from how third-placed Hants went about things as Kent take on champions and early leaders Surrey from today at The Oval.

The 31-year-old said: “It’s Division 1 in a nutshell. It’s ruthless and it’s relentless.

“This is a ruthless division where it’s very hard if you are in a bit of a slump, individually but also collectively, to get out of it.

“You do that by kind of binding together as a group and having some really clear game-plans.

“We learnt a lot from their bowling attack, [with] how early they go to a ring-field and a more defensive field, and just controlled the game a little bit more. At times, we’ve probably leaked runs and the game gets away from you.

“So just watching how the really good and experienced sides do it is good because it allows us to take things which can put us in good stead moving forward.

“We’re a much better side than we’re showing at the moment. It’s up to us to change it around.

“It’s going to be tough but we’ve had some decent success at The Oval, so why not?”

Surrey’s red-ball title defence has begun with three wins and two draws.

“We know they’re as good as anyone,” admitted Billings.

“Of course, they’re champions for a reason and they’ve started the season really well.

“We’re going to have to play really well but it’s a challenge that we’re looking forward to now.

“Fingers crossed that we can take the positive small steps from it into this week.”

Kent were involved in a relegation dogfight for much of last year, too, before they finished fifth having been victorious in their last two 2022 fixtures.

“We know we’re in a bit of a dogfight and we were in one the last month of last season,” said Billings. “We’re not hiding away from that.

“We’re pretty realistic. I know people don’t think we are but we are pretty realistic and we know where we’re at.

“But you can only really focus on these little positive wins after being in such a poor place.

“WinViz had us at 1% or something in this game [after the first day when Hampshire bowled Kent out for a measly 95] so, to get something out of this, it’s a huge positive.

“It’s a fresh start this week. We know how tough it’s going to be but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

There was plenty of grit and determination shown by Kent’s batsmen in the second innings against Hampshire to secure the draw.

Jack Leaning (68 not out) top scored after openers Zak Crawley (56) and Ben Compton (54) had seen off the first new ball on the third evening while wicketkeeper Jordan Cox ended unbeaten on 30 off 130 balls.

Pembury-born Billings noted: “It was quite tight between the strike-rates last year of Compo versus Coxy [in the County Championship].

“Compo has been winding Coxy up a little bit, saying that might drag it back down towards his level. That’s quite funny.

“Of course, we know Jack can play those attritional innings and really be a solid player.

“The thing with Jack is he steps up as a senior player.

“That’s what you need in situations like that - that gritty Yorkshireman to kind of be an immovable object after Compo got out.

“It’s just that character and ability to put the team first, and to do what’s required.

“It comes from a strong foundation at the top.

“I don’t think we can underestimate the effort Compo and Zak put in on Saturday night because they’re a top-quality attack. We’ve seen it for the last few years that they’re as good as any bowling attack in the country.

“So to get through that 20 overs or so unscathed, that really set it up and gave us a sniff.”

Arafat Bhuiyan has signed professionally for Kent - and goes into their 12-man squad for the Surrey game. Fellow bowler Matt Quinn is rested.

Kent start their T20 Blast campaign against Gloucestershire at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Dutch seamer Fred Klaassen took 5-12 inside three overs in Kent 2nds’ T20 six-wicket triumph against Sussex 2nds at Polo Farm on Tuesday.