Moises Henriques believes this season’s Sydney Sixers are as good as the side that won the inaugural Big Bash League title two years ago.

The Sixers have already booked themselves a spot in the semi-finals, but will be playing for the home-ground advantage when they face cross-town rivals the Thunder on Saturday at ANZ Stadium.

Henriques’ men will need to win the season-ending derby in front of an expected record crowd and have the Perth Scorchers lose to runaway leaders the Melbourne Stars on Monday to guarantee a Sydney play-off.

“If we knock the Thunder over, I’ll be a Stars fan (on Monday) hoping the Scorchers will get knocked over too,” the allrounder said.

The Sixers have never lost to the Thunder – a record Henriques is keen to maintain with a team he holds in high esteem.

Asked whether he believes they are as strong as the 2011/2012 champions, the 26-year-old said: “Yeah I think so.

“Especially with guys like Mitchell Starc not so far away from playing cricket – he should be back by semi-final time.

“And Sean Abbott comes back into the team this game.

“Although we do lose Steve Smith (to the national team), we gain those two players.”

But the Thunder, who ended a 19-game losing streak with victory over the Melbourne Renegades last week, will be looking to put a dent in the Sixers’ chances of getting a home semi-final.

“We haven’t beaten them yet and we haven’t had a win at our home ground,” captain Mike Hussey said.

“It’s been a shame we’ve had a 12-day break since that game to this one because it would’ve been nice to keep that roll moving along. But that’s the way it goes.

“Our fans have been very loyal and supportive of us throughout the whole season, so it’ll be great to send them off with a big smile on their face at the end of Saturday night.”