A team used to playing its home games 41 degrees south of the equator will instead play in 41-degree temperatures on Friday afternoon when the Hurricanes kick off their season in Alice Springs.

Tasmanian-born quick Riley Meredith - the man tipped to fill star import Archer's shoes this season - said his side would welcome the challenge of both the heat and the Sydney Sixers come 2.45pm.

"It definitely feels hot," the 23-year-old said after training in 43-degree heat on Thursday.

"It doesn't feel like it's 50 degrees or anything but you go outside and you're sweating. It's a little bit different to being in Tassie but it's pretty good."

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Meredith has made plenty of headlines this season, dismissing national stars Steve Smith and David Warner in a domestic one-dayer in October and impressing for Australia A against Pakistan last month.

The Clarence paceman has also found a handy advocate in former Australian leg-spinner and media personality Shane Warne, who has called for Meredith's inclusion in national squads on several occasions.

"It's a bit of a funny one I guess," Meredith said of having the country's greatest-ever spinner in his corner.

"Every time you turn the Test match on at the moment he's hyping me up which is a bit surreal.

"The boys are giving me plenty of stick about it but it's good to have people like that talking you up.

"You're a fan of every Australian cricketer when you're a young fella watching them play and he's definitely up there."

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The Hurricanes have been forced to appoint a new skipper and a new opener for the first half of the season as Matthew Wade continues national duties.

Ben McDermott has been given the former role, while D'Arcy Short's new top-order partner is yet to be unveiled.

Meredith said the presence of South African big-hitter David Miller would help fill the void.

"Losing Wadey for the first seven games leaves a bit of a dent but we've got David Miller coming in for him - he's played 300 T20 games in his career and he's got so much to bring to us," he said.

"He's only been here for a few days but he's a phenomenal bloke, everyone's getting along with him well and he's hitting them well so we'll see how he goes."