With two losses, a huge win then a frustrating abandonment, the 'Cane train has had a bumpy ride since leaving the station.

Four games in six days at UTAS Stadium will decide whether the campaign gets derailed or it's full steam ahead towards a maiden grand final.

Led by the competition's highest run-scorer, Kiwi opener Rachel Priest, the Hurricanes enter the twilight zone for late afternoon fixtures with Brisbane Heat on Tuesday and Melbourne Stars on Wednesday, both beginning at 4.50pm.

However, the Inveresk Railyards have an even tighter turnaround in store at the weekend.

The team face the Heat again on Saturday night and are due back at the crease less than 12 hours later with a 10.15am start on Sunday against Corinne Hall's winless Sydney Thunder.

The age range of Salliann Beams' squad is best demonstrated by an opening partnership of 36-year-old Priest and 18-year-old Ruth Johnston and, in a bid to share the workload, selectors have turned to Johnston's Greater Northern Raiders teammate Meg Radford.

Coming into a 14-player squad to take on the Heat and Stars as a local replacement for Maisy Gibson, the all-rounder has been with the Raiders since their inception, taking out the team's best and fairest in their maiden season.

Described as a gun fielder by Raiders coach Darren Simmonds, Radford has a strong sporting pedigree, helping South Launceston CC and Launceston FC to Cricket North and TSLW premierships respectively, winning the Legana Tennis Club junior championship in 2011 and representing Exeter High in swimming carnivals.

Radford has played in all four of the Raiders' CTPL victories this season and is also a member of the Tigers Development Program.

Having scored the competition's first century in last Tuesday's crushing 63-run defeat of the Stars, Priest managed just 13 more runs as Saturday's clash with Adelaide at Invermay Park managed only 16 overs.

Experienced South African Mignon du Preez enjoyed her best knock in purple, hitting three maximums on her way to 39, with Naomi Stalenberg adding an unbeaten 21 although being denied the chance to bowl saw Molly Strano lose her place atop the leading wicket-takers. Strikers' Sarah Coyte leads the way with eight with teammate Darcie Brown and Alana King, of Perth Scorchers, on seven each.

Tuesday's second game is likely to pit Johnston against her cousin Ellie who made her debut in the Heat's narrow win over Adelaide on Sunday, scoring nine runs at first drop.

The Stars face the Thunder in the first fixture at 1.25pm.