Sydney Sixers match-winner Stephen O'Keefe says the powerplay overs hold the key if his team is to have any chance of toppling Big Bash League minor premiers Adelaide Strikers in Saturday's semi-final.
Both the Adelaide Oval game and Sunday's clash between defending champions and second-placed Perth Scorchers and the third-placed Melbourne Stars, who have won five straight, are expected to draw big crowds.
The Strikers sold 20,000 general admission tickets in 20 minutes on Friday.
In each match, the away team are coming off outrageous last-round victories.
On Thursday, emerging Sixers star Jordan Silk slammed 43 off his last 13 deliveries and his side smashed 56 off their last three overs to beat cross-town rival Sydney Thunder
The previous night, Peter Handscomb thrashed an unbeaten 103 off 64 balls to lift the Stars to an equally improbable win over the Scorchers.
Sunday's semi-final gives Perth a quick chance to avenge that loss, though the Stars' five-game winning streak is the longest among the four qualifiers.
For Perth, paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile could make his season debut after recovering from a hamstring injury and batsman Shaun Marsh should return from international duty, as should Stars skipper and power-hitter Cameron White.
For Saturday's game paceman Shaun Tait and veteran batsman Brad Hodge have each been named in the Strikers squad after missing multiple matches through injury, while Sixers' skipper and allrounder Moises Henriques is due back from international duty.
Fourth-placed Sydney, who have lost to the three teams above them, suffered a 23-run loss to the Strikers at the SCG earlier this season.
"They made 182 and then they pantsed us," recalled Sixers' spinner Stephen O'Keefe, who hit the last two balls of Thursday's match against the Thunder for four.
"We're going to have six overs up front with the ball and our first six with the bat is going to be critical for us, if we're going to have any chance of knocking them off.
"They are so skilful. They've got good up front bowlers and death bowlers and guys like Tim Ludeman, who have stepped up a gear. They've got young blokes who are doing well.
"They bat all the way down and in their bowling they've got so many options, so let's just hope they have an off night and we're on our game."
Strikers' coach Darren Berry said the Sixers were a well balanced side, but their bowling was slightly stronger than their batting.
"The two left-handers at the top of the order are dangerous players (Michael) Lumb and (Nic) Maddinson, they are match-winning players," Berry said.
"Riki Wessels is also a dangerous hitter at the top.
"Their bowling attack has really good balance with Brett Lee, Doug Bollinger, and Sean Abbott and Henriques as medium pacers.
"Then there's Nathan Lyon the Test spinner and Stephen O'Keefe who recently played for Australia.
"They've got six front line bowlers."
BIG BASH SEMI-FINALS, THE HEAD-TO-HEAD NUMBERS
Sat Jan 24 - Adelaide Strikers V Sydney Sixers, Adelaide Oval 7.10 pm (AEDT)
*Strikers (1st, 6-1-1 record, Sixers (4th, 5-3).
*Result of head-to-head round game: Strikers won by 23 runs at SCG.
*Most runs: Strikers: Tim Ludeman 238, Sixers: Jordan Silk 266.
*Most wickets: Strikers: Ben Laughlin 12, Sixers: Brett Lee 8.
Sun Jan 25: Perth Scorchers V Melbourne Stars, WACA, Perth, 7.10pm (AEDT)
Scorchers (2nd, 5-3), Stars (3rd, 5-3)
*Result of head-to-head round game: Stars won by three wickets at MCG.
*Most runs: Scorchers: Michael Klinger 288, Stars: Kevin Pietersen 262.
*Most wickets: Scorchers: Jason Behrendorff 13, Stars: John Hastings 13.
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