Home sweet home for Hobart's finals preparation

Hobart have wiped last summer's BBL finals flop from their minds as they aim to cash in on an unexpected home playoff.

Three straight wins and a host of favourable results have catapulted the Hurricanes into The Eliminator final against the Sydney Thunder on Thursday night at Blundstone Arena.

At this point last season the men in purple were runaway minor premiers and favourites to take out a maiden title.

But it all ended abruptly with a six-wicket loss to the Melbourne Stars in the first knock-out semi-final, with no double-chance in last-year's four-team finals format that has been ditched this season.

"I think there was a lot of pressure on us last year, finishing top," coach Adam Griffith said on Tuesday.

"All of a sudden all the stats were coming out in the press about teams that finish top and don't win it.

"So let's hope that happens again this year. I'd love to see the Stars go out in straight sets."

Griffith said his squad were riding a positive wave and had remained upbeat despite a run of four losses through the middle of the tournament.

"We'll take lessons from what we've done at the back end of this season. We don't draw too much on last year," he said.

Hobart will be forced into one team change, with import David Miller no longer available.

Jake Doran, Caleb Jewell and Simon Milenko are in the running to replace the South African batter with a move up the order for Ben McDermott and the retiring George Bailey on the cards.

Brisbane Heat's loss to the last-placed Melbourne Renegades on Monday meant the Hurricanes finished fourth, earning hosting rights at Bellerive Oval.

The team was huddled around an airport baggage carousel watching the end of the match.

"It's huge," Griffith said of the home final, which will also be Bailey's last match on home soil after an earlier regular season "farewell".

"The ability to train at home and sleep in your own bed ... it's given us the best preparation."