The Sydney Thunder were the Big Bash League's battlers. They finished last in the opening three seasons of the competition and barely bettered that return in the next.

Their cross-town rivals were among the competition's rockstars, winning the inaugural title and claiming bragging rights in the first seven derby matches.

The tide would soon begin to change when the Thunder broke through for a stunning BBL triumph in the league's fifth instalment.

Repeating the dose is easier said than done - but Ferguson says there is no place he would rather be as he prepares for his third season at the Thunder.

"I reckon when the competition first started out, it was a club people had question marks over," Ferguson said.

"As I've experienced, it's just a fantastic, well-run club. We get looked after so well, they make the transition from state to Big Bash so easy. It seems to be a club people want to come to which is really exciting for us.

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"I'm not too sure exactly what it is, but I think back to four or five years ago when Nick Cummins and Mike Hussey got together and started putting a lot together off-field and on-field here at the Thunder.

"It seems to have been a progression. They won the Big Bash, Shane Watson was a big part of that as well, and things have just continued to improve, from what I understand, from back in those days.

"I heard nothing but glowing reviews from people within the club leading into coming up here, and my experience has been fantastic.

"I love playing up here, I love what the club does on and off the field with community engagement, the way they look after their interstate and overseas players, I couldn't speak highly enough of everything the club does."

And on the park? Ferguson believes the Thunder have assembled a squad capable of rising to the lofty heights the club reached four seasons ago.

The long walk to the summit begins with a season-opening clash against the Brisbane Heat at The Gabba on Tuesday before their first home game against Adelaide at Manuka Oval on Saturday.

They will need to do it without Shane Watson, but a Test omission has opened the door for Usman Khawaja to line up for the Thunder in a huge coup for the club plotting their return to the top.

His appearances for the Thunder have been few and far between - but those cameos have often proven unforgettable.

Like in the club's lone title win, when Khawaja played just four games but hit 345 runs at 172.5 including two centuries and a player of the match award in the final.

"To be able to bring in the calibre of player we have into the squad this season is just phenomenal. We're really excited about what this season could bring for us," Ferguson said.

"Whilst it's disappointing for Uzzie and we're all disappointed for him, to have him in our side strengthens us enormously. It's almost Watson out, Khawaja in.

"Hopefully we can get Uzzie back into the Test side. Runs anywhere carry weight, so hopefully we can get him into that one-day side in India but we'll enjoy having him until then.

"He has just been so dominant whenever he has played for the Thunder. He was another one that played a big role in the Thunder BBL win a number of years ago.

"It's an awesome prospect to add him into our line-up this season when none of us really expected to have him much at all."