Allrounder Mitch Marsh has lifted the Perth Scorchers to 7-151 after they won the toss in their Big Bash League opener against defending champions Brisbane Heat at the Gabba on Sunday night.

Brisbane looked on track for a perfect start to their title defence after reducing Perth to 6-94 in the 15th over in their BBL grand final re-match.

However, Marsh thrashed an unbeaten 57 off 35 balls including five fours and a six to guide the visitors out of trouble and to a competitive total.

Perth coach Justin Langer had expected big things from Marsh who was back in the BBL side after more than a year out of the side due to injury.

He missed all of last summer’s BBL plus the team’s recent sorry Champions League campaign in India due to a hamstring complaint.

At one stage it looked like his brother Shaun Marsh would be the Perth dangerman on Sunday night.

Last season’s BBL leading run-scorer thrashed three boundaries in quick time after the early loss of captain Simon Katich (10) and Sam Whiteman (six) to Alister McDermott (3-38).

But when he was brilliantly caught at midwicket by a diving Dan Christian off Ben Cutting (3-31) for a 30-ball 37, it sparked a slump of 4-23 that reduced the visitors to 6-94 before his sibling fired up.

Brisbane backed up their controversial decision to overlook favourite son Chris Hartley and hand the gloves to England import Craig Kieswetter by dumping form Sheffield Shield batsman Peter Forrest for their BBL opener.

The Scorchers cut left-arm quick Ryan Duffield and named one of their four spinners Ashton Turner 12th man.

The Heat are without Test stars Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris.