Sydney Thunder have lost captain and leading scorer Mike Hussey but they're determined to target Perth Scorchers' prolific pair Shaun Marsh and Michael Klinger in Thursday's key Big Bash League clash.
Hussey, who has scored 223 runs at an average of 74 with three 50s in five innings, injured his hamstring batting against the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba last Sunday.
A Thunder official said Hussey might have played for his third-placed team against the second-placed Thunder had the home game at Spotless Stadium been a few days later and he was expected to return for the latter stages of the tournament.
Fellow veteran Jacques Kallis was named in the match squad despite the South African allrounder not bowling or fielding against Brisbane because of a back issue.
Veteran allrounder Andrew McDonald, who has yet to play a BBL game this season, replaces Hussey in the only change to the squad.
The Scorchers named an unchanged squad from that which lost to Adelaide on Tuesday.
Perth's reliance on openers Marsh and Klinger was underlined by the mediocre effort of their underdone middle order when finally called on in the 36-run loss at Adelaide Oval.
Between them the pair have tallied more runs than the rest of the side combined through Perth's first five matches.
They produced partnerships of 41, 171 and 65 in the first three matches they played together.
Prior to Tuesday's loss, Perth hadn't been bowled out this season and had only once in their four previous games lost more than one wicket.
"Shaun Marsh and Michael Klinger at the moment are two of the better in-form batters around the world and also in this country," Thunder paceman Clint McKay said on Wednesday.
"We know if we can get them early it goes a long way to winning this game of cricket."
The teams are level on points in the top four with 3-2 records and it looms as a crucial contest given the congested nature of the ladder.
Thunder officials are hoping the massive drenching Sydney has copped this week will relent in time for the match to be played.
Around 8500 tickets for Thursday's game had been sold by Wednesday afternoon.
PERTH SCORCHERS' RELIANCE ON SHAUN MARSH AND MICHAEL KLINGER
*RUNS: Klinger and Marsh combined: 395 (Klinger 205, Marsh 190). Rest of team: 260
*BALLS FACED: Klinger and Marsh combined: 300 (Klinger 152, Marsh 148). Rest of team: 216
*FIFTIES: Klinger and Marsh combined: 4 (Klinger 2, Marsh 2). Rest of team: 0
*SIXES: Klinger and Marsh combined: 13 (Marsh 8, Klinger 5). Rest of team: 10
*FOURS: Klinger and Marsh combined: 35 (Klinger 19, Marsh 16). Rest of team: 19
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