The Melbourne Renegades may have their finals destiny in their own hands but some help from an unlikely source wouldn't go astray on Saturday.
It shapes as an intriguing weekend for the Big Bash League, with many players having a keen eye - and ear - on events in India, where the mega Twenty20 Premier League auction will be held.
For the third-placed Renegades, their focus will be on defeating the Heat in Brisbane.
Should the Gades win, then they will play finals for the first time in five years. If they lose, they need to ensure it's by a small enough margin so that the Heat don't overtake them on run rate, or hope the last-placed Melbourne Stars can conjure victory against the fourth-placed Hobart Hurricanes at the MCG.
The challenge for the Gades will be made that much harder by the expected return of Heat power hitter Chris Lynn from a calf injury but they were at least able to regain momentum by ending a three-game skid to defeat the Sydney Thunder by nine runs on Wednesday.
Batsman Tom Cooper said the Gades were ready to handle the high stakes.
"I guess there are a few equations that the powers above will work out for us but it's our job to go out and try and get another win and build some more momentum," he said on Friday.
"Last year, we left it up to other results and it didn't quite go our way, so it's nice to have our destiny in our own hands. We will go out and give it our best shot and, hopefully, come away with another win."
Victory over the Thunder, led by four wickets from Kane Richardson and completed by a fine final over from replacement import Kieron Pollard, highlighted the depth of the squad for it came without batting brutes Aaron Finch, Cameron White and Brad Hodge, the latter a late withdrawal because of appendicitis. Hodge will again be missing against the Heat, his spot going to Marcus Harris, who responded to a reprieve against the Thunder by smacking 64 off 41 balls.
"It's never nice to get on a losing streak as we did but the boys played beautifully ... it was nice to get some winning momentum up again," Cooper said.
That included the opening over from Cooper, who conceded only one run - but was not given another bowl.
"It's always nice to get off while you are ahead," Cooper joked.
Whether he asks for a bowl against the Heat could be dependent on how well Lynn and Brendon McCullum are faring at the top of the order. The Gades know how important it is they are dismissed quickly if they hope to taste their second win of the campaign against the Heat, having prevailed by seven wickets in December when Jack Wildermuth (3-16) was man of the match.
"They [Lynn and McCullum] can take a game away from you quickly. That's their strength - if we nip that in the bud early, it will go a long way to us [winning]," Cooper said.
For the WBBL Renegades, it also shapes as an exciting weekend, as they must twice defeat the Perth Scorchers at Camberwell Sports Ground to make the finals.
Renegades men squad (v Heat, Saturday, 7.20pm AEDT): Dwayne Bravo (captain), Marcus Harris, Tom Cooper, Mackenzie Harvey, Brad Hogg, Jon Holland, Tim Ludeman, Kieron Pollard, Kane Richardson, Matt Short, Chris Tremain, Beau Webster, Jack Wildermuth
Renegades women (v Perth, Saturday and Sunday, 2pm): Amy Satterthwaite (captain), Chamari Atapattu, Kris Britt, Maitlan Brown, Jess Duffin, Emma Inglis, Hayley Jensen, Claire Koski, Sophie Molineux, Rhiann O'Donnell, Molly Strano, Jenny Taffs, Lea Tahuhu, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham.
