Brisbane Heat star Nathan McSweeney insists his side's impressive BBL campaign will not be derailed by having to move from the Gabba to the Gold Coast for the finals series.
The top-placed Heat will welcome back Test pair Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja on Wednesday evening when they hope to maintain their unbeaten start to the season against defending champions Perth at the Gabba.
Such was the form for the Heat, as they had already guaranteed themselves a place in the top four and at least one home finals match even though they still had two regular season games to play.
However, with the Gabba needing to prepare for this month's Australia-West Indies Test in Brisbane, the Heat's finals matches will be played at home at Heritage Bank Stadium in Carrara.
The slow wicket used at the Gold Coast arena will be in stark contrast to the fast and bouncy Gabba pitch.
“It's normal for him to be a little slower than the Gabba,” McSweeney said on Monday.
“Personally I like to play the Gabba. It suits my game really well, but (qualifying opener) Colin Munro and players like that have had really big results at (Heritage Bank Stadium), so I don't think it will be a big problem for us.”
However, New Zealand import Munro will not be available for the finals series due to playing commitments in the UAE-based International T20 League.
Regardless, McSweeney has the Heat tipped for a homestand in the Finals.
“The crowds there are amazing,” he said.
“The land is really beautiful land so it shouldn't make much difference to us.
“To play a home final is huge for us and our fans. They've been excellent this year at the Gabba and (Heritage Bank Stadium) is a great stadium as well, so we're really looking forward to getting down there and playing.”
Labuschagne and Khawaja are available for Heat selection for only the second time this season on Wednesday night.
Having played in the Heat's opening match of the 2023-24 campaign, a 103-run win over the Melbourne Stars, the duo then departed to represent Australia in the recently concluded three-Test series against Pakistan.
Heat coach Wade Seccombe said: “It will be good for the group to have Ousmane and Marnus back in the team, especially as we reach the end of the competition.”
“They have helped us make a confident start to the BBL season and will no doubt relish the opportunity to get out in front of the Heat fans at the Gabba before refocusing on the rest of the Test summer (against the West Indies).”
Following Wednesday night's game, the Scorchers will host the Heat on Saturday, with McSweeney saying back-to-back games against Perth would be the perfect build-up to the finals.
“Perth have been fantastic over the last couple of years so we have to be at our best,” he said.
“We haven't quite nailed it. We've won the last few games in a row and are unbeaten, but I feel we haven't played our best cricket, so hopefully we can go for that perfect game, and bat and bowl together in one game.” Game.
“We haven't really achieved both. That would be good, no doubt, but we're playing great cricket, so there's no reason why we can't win.”
Originally published as Brisbane Heat are confident of adapting to their new home turf during the BBL finals series
