Heat in BBL finals hunt, Lynn eyes return

The Heat's four-wicket win over BBL champions the Sydney Sixers at the Gabba on Saturday, combined with the Melbourne Stars' defeat to Hobart means Brisbane are just three points off fifth place.

A win over the table-topping Sydney Thunder on Monday could be enough to lift the Heat into a finals berth, with the Stars again facing the Hurricanes in Hobart on Monday as well.

There's also a chance talismanic captain Chris Lynn might make an earlier-than-expected return for the Heat after being named in a 19-man squad on Sunday to face the Thunder.

A final decision on whether Lynn, who has been sidelined since before Christmas with a hamstring strain, will play is expected to made before the bat flip of Monday's game.

Stand-in captain Jimmy Peirson said the 30-year-old appears to be healing well.

"He's pushing his body to get back as fast as he can," Peirson said.

"Obviously we want him back as quick as we can, he's our leader and our best player."

Lynn was originally slated to miss six games with a scheduled January 14 return.

"I'm not sure where he's at just yet, if we'll get him in a couple of nights' time or not," said Peirson.

"But when he comes back in, that brings a whole lot of confidence in our batting and our leadership group as well," the wicketkeeper-batsman added.

While Lynn may soon be back in teal, Afghanistan's looming three-game one-day tour against Ireland in the UAE later this month may rob the Heat of their teenage spinner Mujeeb Ur-Rahman.

Mujeeb, Adelaide Strikers' star Rashid Khan and Melbourne Renegades allrounder Mohammad Nabi may all be called up for the series.

"I'd imagine if those guys are going, Mujeeb would be in that conversation as well," Peirson said.

"Luckily, we've got Matty Kuhnemann and I'm not sure what Mitch Swepson's availability is going to be like coming out of that Test team.

"If we can get those guys coming in as Mujeeb leaves, then no worries there."

Australian Associated Press