Strikers out to tell a different tale

Adelaide Strikers paceman Ben Laughlin has been here before: warm favourites entering a KFC BBL semi-final.

This time, he hopes it's different.

Laughlin has played in two previous BBL semis - in BBL|04 and BBL|05 - when the Strikers topped the table entering the playoffs.

They lost both - heavily.

Three years ago, the Strikers were bowled out for just 94 - tailender Laughlin top-scored with 22 - in an 87-run loss to the Sydney Sixers.

A year later, Adelaide were trounced by eight wickets in a semi-final by Sydney Thunder.

"You learn from it but I just think we were a little bit overcome by the occasion," Laughlin told reporters on Tuesday, ahead of Adelaide's home semi-final against Melbourne Renegades on Friday night.

"We finished on top those seasons and that was justified as being good enough for us."

Laughlin said such satisfaction was no longer evident at the Strikers.

"That is gone," the 35-year-old said.

"Let's go one more. I want to win something.

"I have been playing for a long time and haven't lifted many trophies so I want to get to the final and have a good crack at it.

"I will be trying to pass that on to the young fellas, that these don't come around too often."

The Strikers will be without stars Travis Head, Billy Stanlake and Alex Carey for the semi-final, with the trio part of Australia's T20I squad.

But Head said on Tuesday he has no doubt what he'd rather be doing this weekend.

"I want to be playing for my country," Head said. "It's a little bit disappointing not playing for Adelaide, we have been in the mix for some silverware in the past and haven't been able to quite do it.

"To leave the boys in a nice position was nice and hopefully they can get the job done.

"But playing for my country is what I want to be doing."