Brisbane Heat sweat on Lynn return

Brisbane Heat will be sweating on the fitness of hard-hitting batsman Chris Lynn for what looms as a season-defining match against Melbourne Renegades. 

After suffering a nine-wicket hammering at the hands of Sydney Sixers at the SCG last night, Brisbane will need to win their final match against the Renegades at the Gabba on January 27 and hope other results go their way if they are to qualify for the playoffs.

The Heat have been without Lynn for the past four matches after he was selected in Australia's Gillette ODI Series squad before a calf injury ruled him out of national duties.

But the 27-year-old was swinging freely in the SCG nets prior to the match yesterday, leaving Heat coach Daniel Vettori hopeful his star stroke-maker would be fit for the crucial clash against the 'Gades.

"We're fortunate ... that we've nine days off until out next game," Vettori said. 

"We've got a lot of time to track him and progress him. 

"Chris has been getting there quickly he's still got that track record of getting on the park and not being able to maintain it. We're hopeful he can play."

If Lynn does make it back in time, it might be his only match in teal before he's whisked away by Australia's selectors.

The squads for Australia's Qantas Test tour of South Africa and Gillette T20I tri-series against England and New Zealand are set to be announced on January 22, with the first T20 scheduled for February 3 in Sydney, two days after the first KFC BBL semi-final.

Should Lynn be fit and selected to represent his country, he would likely play the clash against Melbourne Renegades and then assemble with the national team, ruling him out of the BBL finals.  

But for Brisbane to secure a top four spot, they would need to beat the Renegades in their regular season finale and hope the men in red lose their other two games against Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Thunder, who could sneak into fourth spot if results go their way.

"It would be nice if Chris was back and we can go hell for leather in that last game but it's a long time away, it's nine days," Vettori said. 

"There'll be a chance to regroup, a chance to hopefully get some confidence back in the team and prepare as well as we can for that important game."

The Heat are in this position after losing their past three games – twice to Hobart Hurricanes and last night against the Sixers after being skittled for just 73.

Vettori described the loss to the Sixers as a "really disappointing performance" and refused to accept it was "just one of those games" with so much riding on the outcome.

"There's a hell of a lot of disappointment around the performance, particularly on the back of two tough losses to Hobart," Vettori said, with the Heat going down to the Hurricanes by six wickets and three runs in their two encounters this season. 

"We came here with some high hopes for turning things around and it was a crucial game for our season. 

"It would be nice to be able to say that but it's a lot more important than 'just one of those games'."