February 1: BBL Knockout - Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Thunder, Adelaide

Our XI: Phil Salt, Alex Hales, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Jonathan Wells, Chris Morris, Daniel Sams, Rashid Khan, Michael Neser, Jonathan Cook, Peter Siddle

Captain: Alex Hales

The in-form Hales is the second-highest run-scorer this season, and has been crucial to the Thunder making it to the business end of the tournament, with scores of 85, 63, 47 and 60 in his last four outings. That's some serious form.

Vice-captain: Jonathan Wells

The star Strikers batsman has been one of the best middle-order batsmen this time out, fourth on the batting chart this season with 444 runs in 14 games from a tough spot. He usually scores quickly, puts a big price on his wicket, and finishes games.

Hot picks

Daniel Sams: Leading the bowling chart with 27 wickets in 15 games, left-arm quick Sams' consistency has been one of the big factors for the Thunder. He has struck once every 11.2 balls and has an economy of 7.75 this season, useful numbers too.

Travis Head: Head has been a bit up and down this season, not quite able to string together a sequence of big scores, but he's getting there, scoring 79, 35 and 47 in three of his last four innings. But after entering the show late - he has batted only seven times - he has made decent contributions for the Strikers, and they will want him to be the leader he can be.

Value picks

Phil Salt: Salt might have flown under the radar a bit, but the Strikers opener has been impressive on the whole, with 356 runs from 14 games with four fifties, two of which came in the last two matches leading up to the playoffs.

Jonathan Cook: The 30-year-old legspinner has been quite consistent for the Thunder this season. He finished with career-best figures of 4 for 21 in the eliminator against the Hobart Hurricanes to knock them out of the tournament. A good time to get to his best.

Point to note

The first time these two teams slugged it out, there wasn't much slugging as they had to split points after an abandonment in Canberra. The second time, the Thunder got the better of the Strikers in Adelaide, putting up 168 for 5 and then stopping the home side at 165 for 9.