Up to 26,500 fans to flood through gates at SCG as capacity upped for Saturday BBL final

“We’ve worked closely with NSW Health and Cricket Australia to bring this major event to the SCG and can’t wait to see the Sydney Sixers and their fans at their home ground on Saturday,” he said.

The Sydney Sixers will host either the Perth Scorchers or Brisbane Heat, who face each other in The Challenger at Manuka Oval on Thursday night.

The Sixers will be without Mitchell Starc who was officially ruled out of the final on Tuesday, having not played for the Sixers throughout the current BBL season.

“The guys have done so well this year and I think it’s in everyone’s best interests to stick with the guys that have worked so hard to get to this point,” Starc said.

Sixers general manager Jodie Hawkins said the decision was mutual between the two parties.

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“Circumstances meant he and Nathan Lyon were not able to join us this season but they are both very much part of our set up and will represent the club off the field on Saturday night,” she said. “Our current squad have done an incredible job all season to qualify for the final while playing every game on the road and Mitch and the club are really comfortable with this decision.”

Sixers teammate Carlos Braithwaite said he understood why Starc decided not to join the squad but believed the team would have been lifted by “50 or 100 per cent” with the fast-bowler’s inclusion.

“I guess sometimes you have to do the superstars job for them and get them some silverware as well,” he joked.

“Without him there we have the guys that have brought us to the final and it seems as though the management is backing the team to go do this.

“Even that in itself is a nod of confidence from the management to the current group of players.”

Braithwaite said the squad was cautious of not letting their emotions get the better of them when they play their first home game of the season.

“When signed I was looking forward to playing at the SCG, I had probably one of my best Test knocks there, I have a good affiliation with it, a good affinity for it,” he said.

“Having been deprived of that, and not having being able to represent the team in front of our fans at the SCG it may be a bit more of an occasion than just a grand final.”