Big picture - History on the line for Renegades and Heat

The stakes are obviously huge as the 10th edition of the WBBL culminates on Sunday at the MCG.

Both teams have history on the line, but for vastly different reasons. Melbourne Renegades have struggled for most of the tournament's history. Other than fellow stragglers Hobart Hurricanes, Renegades have been the only team to never reach the final, and they finished with the wooden spoon last season.

After vaulting into the final, Renegades have been in the midst of an extended break having not played since November 23. They are giddily eyeing a first WBBL title but will confront a confident Brisbane Heat side that tuned up for the final with a nine-wicket shellacking of Sydney Thunder at Allan Border Field on Friday.

Heat have similarly been in rich late-season form as they look to make amends for last season's heartbreak of falling short to Adelaide Strikers in a thrilling final.

A powerhouse of the competition, having qualified for seven straight finals series, Heat are aiming to become the first team to win three titles after back-to-back triumphs in WBBL 04-05.

With compelling storylines and a contest between two red-hot teams, this mouth-watering final shapes as a fitting way to end a shortened WBBL season that broke several attendance and broadcast records. It will also be the first standalone WBBL final played at the iconic MCG.

Form guide

(Last five completed matches; most recent first)

Melbourne Renegades WWWWW
Brisbane Heat WWWWW

In the spotlight - Deandra Dottin, Grace Harris

Team news - Injury concerns for Rodrigues

Brisbane Heat (probable): 1 Grace Harris, 2 Georgia Redmayne (wk), 3 Jemimah Rodrigues/Sianna Ginger, 4 Charli Knott, 5 Jess Jonassen (capt), 6 Laura Harris, 7 Lauren Winfield-Hill, 8 Lucy Hamilton, 9 Shikha Pandey, 10 Nicola Hancock, 11 Grace Parsons

Renegades are well rested and likely to field an unchanged XI from their previous match against Thunder.

Melbourne Renegades (probable): 1 Courtney Webb, 2 Hayley Matthews, 3 Sophie Molineux (capt), 4 Deandra Dottin, 5 Georgia Wareham, 6 Naomi Stalenberg, 7 Nicole Faltum (wk), 8 Grace Scrivens, 9 Georgia Prestwidge, 10 Sarah Coyte, 11 Milly Illingworth

Pitch and conditions

There has been heavy rain in the lead-up and further showers on Sunday are forecast in Melbourne, a city well known for its fickle weather. The conditions might prove favourable for bowling and the ground's large boundaries could ensure this is a low-scoring final.

Stats and trivia

Quotes

"We've been a pretty successful team over a long period of time. We have made Big Bash finals and WNCL finals so it is not an unfamiliar challenge for us."
Heat wicketkeeper-batter Georgia Redmayne