The Sydney Thunder has vowed to bring its strongest possible squad, including champion all-rounder Jacques Kallis, to Canberra for a proposed Big Bash League warm-up game.
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The Thunder is in discussion with the ACT Government to play a trial at Manuka Oval against the ACT Comets in December.
The BBL franchise will use the fixture as preparation for its season opener against the Brisbane Heat at ANZ Stadium on December 21.
In the draw released on Tuesday, the Thunder will play two of its home games at ANZ Stadium, and the other two at the 25,000-seat capacity Spotless Stadium (Sydney Showgrounds) for the first time.
Manuka Oval was raised as a possibility to fill in while ANZ Stadium is unavailable because of football's Asian Cup, but it was decided to keep the games in western Sydney closer to the team's fan base.
Thunder general manager Nick Cummins said Manuka Oval was seriously considered as an option to host a regular-season game given the strong turnouts in recent years to marquee fixtures in Canberra.
"We did talk about it, but in the end it made sense to play at Spotless Stadium, given its proximity to ANZ Stadium and the majority of our fans are in western Sydney,'' Cummins said.
"The ACT is an important part of our Thunder zone, and that's why we're looking at playing a warm-up game there leading into the start of the season. We would be bringing our full squad and using the match to play our best team, barring injuries, ahead of our season opener against the Heat.''
Kallis would be a huge drawcard for what could potentially be his second appearance in the national capital in the space of a month. The 38-year-old could be a part of the South African team to face Australia in a one-day international at Manuka Oval on November 19.
While he has retired from the Test arena, Kallis is still putting his hand up to represent his country in the shorter formats as he aims for a swansong at next year's cricket World Cup in Australia.
The addition of Kallis for the next two seasons, along with the return of Mike Hussey, has raised expectations that the Thunder can rise up the BBL ladder after winning just one game last campaign.
"Jacques won't be relied upon to win every game off his own bat, but it's great to have a player of his experience in the squad,'' Cummins said. "He's a guy who can pass on so much to everyone else given what he's accomplished in the game.
''We will still be looking to strengthen our squad so we can achieve results on the field.''
The Thunder needs to announce the first 10 players of its squad by next week.
It had four players on last season's roster – Ryan Carters, Jason Floros, Blake Dean and Greg West – who are either current or former ACT players. expected to feature in Twenty20 pathway fixtures in October and November to earn either full or supplementary contracts with the Thunder.
