Tough road back for axed Klinger

Perth Scorchers star Shaun Marsh hopes he will be given the chance to play with Michael Klinger again after the veteran opener was axed for Thursday night's loss to the Sydney Thunder.

Klinger, the KFC BBL's all-time leading run scorer, has endured a season to forget, averaging just 12.78 across nine matches while his strike rate of 83.3 has also been well below his usual lofty standards.

With the return of the Shaun and captain Mitch Marsh from international duties, the 38-year-old faces a fight to play again.

The elder Marsh, who scored an unbeaten 96 off 55 balls in the six-wicket loss to the Thunder, hopes Klinger will get another chance.

"He's been a fantastic player for a long period of time," Marsh said.

"Hopefully he gets another game. I'd love to have another game with him."

Klinger, who has retired from first-class cricket and is set to join English county side Gloucestershire again this winter, has conceded his form hasn't been up to scratch in BBL08.

“My job is to make big, substantial scores to help the team win games and 20s aren’t good enough for that,” Klinger said earlier this month.

“I need to be making 60 or 70-plus scores to help the team either set a good total or chase one down. I haven’t been able to do that yet.”

The Scorchers' perfect record of never missing the finals is almost certain to end this season.

With a 3-7 record, the last-placed Scorchers need to win their final four games and rely on other results to fall their way in order to sneak into the top four.

"It's going to be hard now for us," Marsh said.

"But you never know - if we win our last four games game, we're probably a slight chance. But it's going to be tough.

"(We are going to be playing for) a lot of pride. We want to come out here and play well."

The Scorchers' bowling performances in the past two games has proven to be their downfall.

Perth were unable to defend 9-177 against Hobart, and 4-181 against the Thunder.

The Scorchers take on the Melbourne Renegades in Perth on Monday night, before facing the Heat (away), Stars (home), and Strikers (away).