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AB de Villiers, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne - pick them all!

January 23: Brisbane Heat v Sydney Sixers in Brisbane

Our XI: Sam Heazlett, Moises Henriques, Steven Smith, Chris Lynn, Marnus Labuschagne, AB de Villiers, Josh Philippe, Ben Cutting, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Tom Curran, James Pattinson

NOTE: We might not always be able to tip you off about a late injury (or other relevant) updates.

Captain: AB de Villiers

He's had two bad outings and has been part of a record-setting collapse, but that doesn't make de Villiers any less of an alluring choice for captaincy. At No. 3, he is primed to turn around both his form and that of his team's.

Vice-captain: Steven Smith

Smith comes in on the back of big runs in the ODI series against India, where he was innovative in the slog overs when needed. That could flow right into this match, where batting conditions may be slightly tougher, but should still be up his alley.

Hot picks

Moises Henriques

Henriques struck it sweetly in his last match during a brilliant 31-ball 72. In a match that will feature the likes of Smith, Labushchagne and Chris Lynn, Henriques doesn't seem like an automatic pick. But on what could be a slow pitch, his experience and form could come in handy and he could be a good differentiator given that most teams will have stacked up on those other players.

Marnus Labuschagne

Probably the most in-form batsman in Australia over the last nine months or so. Labuschagne's solidity is just what the struggling Heat line-up needs at the moment, and the knock-off effect on the big hitters around him will be immense. Not that he can't get runs himself - he is almost guaranteed to get runs going by the way he has been batting.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman

In the last match in Brisbane, Cameron Boyce and Samit Patel shared six wickets. Mujeeb was economical but didn't take too many wickets - something that could change now that he's got a feel for the surface and has seen other spinners take advantage of it.

Value picks

Sam Heazlett: Heazlett was pristine before the Heat's big collapse in the last match, notching up a breezy fifty at a strike rate of more than 150, but hitting only one six in that innings. If anything, that shows a player in full control of his attacking game.

Ben Cutting: Time and again this season, Cutting has stood up for the Heat in difficult situations. There has been the odd four-over spell for two wickets, the steadying innings to win a match, and a cameo or two out of the experienced allrounder in an up-and-down season. He will get you points one way or another.

Point to note

As the battle for top-four spots hits the last lap, there is no room for the Heat to make mistakes. A loss in this match will make it very hard to jump up from sixth spot with two games left. Expect them to come all guns blazing with a packed batting line-up.