All rounder Lauren Smith has labelled Wednesday's Sydney derby as the WBBL's version of State of Origin, and urged her Thunder teammates to use the clash with their biggest rival to recalibrate their season.
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The Thunder were top of this year's WBBL after five rounds, but three losses on the spin prior to Tuesday night's clash with the Melbourne Renegades and Wednesday's crunch match against the Sixers has left Smith's new team in danger of missing the finals.
Smith spent her entire career at the Sixers before switching teams during the offseason at the urging of Thunder captain Rachael Haynes.
Now she's on the other side of the ledger, she's desperate to claim a morale-boosting win over her old club.
"It's kind of like the State of Origin," Smith said.
"We're all best mates and obviously we're all pretty competitive so we always want to win any game that we're playing. Two Sydney teams, we both know each other really well so hopefully Thunder can get over the line.
"I really like being under the captaincy of Rachael Haynes, she kind of twisted my arm to come on over which I was pretty stoked about."
Smith has taken seven wickets in her first eight matches since crossing the Sydney divide, earning more opportunities in Haynes' team after sitting behind Australian star Ashleigh Gardner for years in the Sixers' pecking order.
[The] Sixers, they have a really strong line up and I loved being over there but some of the stars at the top, Ash Gardner, I was always behind her," Smith said.
"Coming over into the green, Rach has just given me a little bit more opportunity which I really like.
"Everyone just needs to believe in themselves and play to their strengths. Our batters are struggling a little bit at the top but I think this is a key game that we can get a little bit of momentum coming into these last few rounds.
"Rach is really key there, she's just so calm and collected in those big moments and I think that's really key in the captain, just being clutch in those big moments."
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Thunder coach Chris Griffin said Smith had been a key addition to his squad.
"We've always known Lauren was a skilful bowler, and, for us, it was simply a matter of giving her that opportunity," Griffin said.
"The way she's taken on some different ideas and views about her game has been tremendous. She's worked incredibly hard, Lauren is great around the group, and her competitiveness on the field is hard to miss.
"It's there in abundance, and you see it in the way she moves, her athleticism is obvious. She also has a level-headedness...she's a player who keeps it all in perspective and is one who has fun with it as well."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
