Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars Predictions - Heat backed to win BBL opener

The Brisbane Heat beat the Melbourne Stars twice last season. The last victory came by four runs.

The Brisbane Heat were the surprise package last season as they ended the season as runners-up. The Heat lost narrowly in the final to Perth Scorchers.

That, however, does not tell the full story. The Brisbane outfit were down near the bottom for much of the season, but a late run of form saw them just qualify for the playoffs.

That form carried over through the playoffs, winning two qualifiers against more fancied sides before losing the final to the Scorchers.

The Heat once again have a solid squad without any huge names. Marnus Labuschagne, Colin Munro, Matt Renshaw and Sam Billings are likely to be key figures. However, none of them will be available for the full season.

The Melbourne Stars are generally very competitive in the Big Bash but endured one of their worst seasons last time out. They finished bottom, winning just three of their 14 games.

The Stars will be looking for a vast improvement this season as they certainly have the squad to challenge. Some international players including Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis may be used sparingly at the start after their recent schedule.

The Stars have a strong squad and should challenge near the top of the table. Much depends on how many games the international stars are available for.