Thunder spinner Tanveer Sangha says Sixers are 'scared' to face his team ahead of all-Sydney Big Bash playoff

Tanveer Sangha has claimed the Sydney Sixers are "vulnerable" and "scared to face" the Sydney Thunder, as the local rivals prepare to battle for a spot in the Australian cricket league final. The Thunder's 21-run DLS victory over the Melbourne Stars in Wednesday night's knockout final set up the first post-season clash between the two Sydney teams in the BBL's 14 seasons.

The winner of Friday night's match at the Sydney Cricket Ground will go on to face the Hobart Hurricanes in the final at Hobart's Bellerive Oval on Monday night. One of the league's most consistently successful teams, the Sixers have historically held the upper hand, with the Thunder winning just twice in their past 10 encounters prior to this summer.

However, the Sixers only defeated the Thunder on the final ball in their first meeting this season, while rain prevented Sangha's team from gaining revenge last week. Australian white-ball leg-spinner Sangha says the Thunder have shown they can match the Sixers, who have seen their Test players Steve Smith, Sean Abbott and Todd Murphy leave camp following last week's washout.

The Sixers have also lost top-order batter James Vince and spinner Akeal Hosein, with the international players heading to the UAE for the ILT20 competition ahead of the finals. "Knowing that their big-name players aren't there, no one is really scoring runs for them. I think we can put them under a lot of pressure," Sangha said. He added, "We're never going to live in the Sixers' shadow. I think they're always scared to face us."

The Thunder will take added confidence from the Sixers' 12-run loss to the Hurricanes in the qualifying final. The Sixers collapsed to 3-5 in their first three overs chasing a score, and were left to rue the loss of big-name players such as Josh Philippe, Jack Edwards and Moises Henriques. The Thunder have shown they are capable of inflicting similar early damage, with quick bowler Nathan McAndrew dismissing both openers on Wednesday night to leave the Stars reeling at 2-15 in the powerplay.

Sangha said: "We saw in the Hurricanes game in Hobart, I think early wickets can really hurt them. If we can try to do the same thing, get early wickets, put them under pressure, I think they're going to be vulnerable."

The subsequently cancelled Sixers-Thunder game had sold out days in advance, with over 30,000 fans turning up despite the poor weather. As of Wednesday afternoon, 7,000 seats had been sold for the qualifying final, with that number immediately spiking after the Thunder locked in their spot. "It's going to be a blockbuster," Sangha said of Friday's match. "I think it's probably going to be the best game of the tournament."

"I'm looking forward to facing the Sixers and beating them at their home ground. They're expected to win. They usually beat the Thunder. I think we're going to turn it around this year."