Sydney Thunder currently lack an Australian Twenty20 bowler but their attack is ready to fire against some of the best batters in the Women's Big Bash League finals.
While the Thunder's top-order is laden with international stars, veteran Rene Farrell and West Indian allrounder Stafanie Taylor are the only members of the bowling group for Thursday's semi-final against the Scorchers with any international Twenty20 experience.
That is not the case for their finals' opposition though with the Sydney Sixers (five), Adelaide Strikers (five) and Perth Scorchers (three) boasting tremendous depth.
Despite the numbers, the Thunder enter the finals with the best bowling net run-rate component of all clubs, having gone at just 6.47 an over on their way to finishing second.
"From the outside, I can see that people thought we had some young players in the group," vice-captain Rachael Haynes said.
"But at every opportunity, they've definitely stood up in big moments.
"We've had some players really stand up and we've known how talented they've been for a while now being in the NSW system."
Key to the Thunder's attack is their multitude of medium pacers, none of whom have gone at more than seven an over this season.
Youngster Belinda Vakarewa is their quickest, Farrell swings the ball significantly while Nicola Carey has become far more threatening in recent years.
To complete their attack Taylor complements young spinners Maisy Gibson and Sam Bates.
"In terms of T20 cricket it's not how quick you can bowl but how you execute under pressure," Haynes said.
"Needing to bowl yorkers at the right time and take the pace off."
The Thunder have been forced to travel to Perth due to the men's schedule, despite having finished higher on the WBBL ladder.
But Haynes, who captained Australia through the Ashes, said the match was being played at Perth's new Optus Stadium meaning there was no real home-ground advantage.
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