Sixers enjoying home comforts before final

The Sydney Sixers aren’t letting themselves be distracted by the idea of a Rebel WBBL three-peat as they lap up home comforts in the lead-up to Saturday’s final against the Brisbane Heat.

The Sixers have a chance to become the first Big Bash team – women’s or men’s – to claim three consecutive titles and for the first time they will go into a final with the home ground advantage, with this summer’s WBBL finals the first played separately from the KFC BBL.

In 2016, the Sixers suffered a narrow defeat to the Thunder at the MCG, before triumphing at the WACA Ground and Adelaide Oval in WBBL|02 and WBBL|03 – despite being the higher-ranked qualifier on both occasions.

This Saturday, the WBBL decider will have the spotlight to itself at Drummoyne Oval.

“In all seriousness, it feels really nice to be at home and hopefully having the home final will settle our nerves a bit,” Sixers wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy said on Wednesday.

“To train in familiar conditions and then go home at the end of the day and cook yourself a meal or be at home with your partner or walk the dogs, it just brings it back to reality.

“We’re really lucky we’ve snagged a home final, it’s definitely an advantage for us and our girls are keen and ready to go.”

Perth Scorchers won three titles in four seasons of the KFC BBL, with their winning run broken by the Sydney Thunder in BBL|05.

The Sixers have a chance to better that Big Bash streak, but after losing to the Heat during the home-and-away season Healy says her team will have their focus strictly on the task immediately at hand.

“It’ll be another thing to tick off the list, we’ve worked incredibly hard to get in the position we are this weekend and we’ve played some really good cricket, but we’re not thinking about that too much,” she said.

“The Heat are a great opposition and we’re going to have to play really well and put a complete game together to win.

“We’re not too worried about the three titles but if that happens on Saturday it’ll be a real thrill for the group and well deserved.

“But at the current point in time we’re just putting in the hard work and hopefully it’ll come together.”

The traditional NSW-Queensland rivalry will add an extra edge to Saturday’s final.

Earlier this summer, the Queensland Fire upset the NSW Breakers in a thrilling 50-over Women’s National Cricket League encounter, and with many of those same players to line up for the Sydney and Brisbane clubs this weekend, Healy expects a fierce contest.

“There is that natural rivalry the Breakers and the Fire have, it fans our battles every year,” she said.

“I’m super competitive so bring it on.

“It’s good friendly banter, we’ve played a lot of cricket against one another and some of us with one another.

“Brisbane have played some fantastic cricket all year and we’re looking forward to this showdown, I think it’ll be really good.”

The Heat and Sixers will meet in the first standalone WBBL final on Saturday at Drummoyne Oval, with the action kick off at 10.10am AEDT.

Tickets are now on sale, with adults $10, concession $5 and children free.

All proceeds from the ticket sales will go towards Dolly’s Dream, a charity supporting the fight against bullying.