The second Melbourne derby of the 2023-2024 edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) takes place at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne, on Saturday, January 13.

The Melbourne Stars are still in contention for a berth in the next round as they are positioned at No. 5 on the points table. Meanwhile, the Melbourne Renegades have been eliminated and are languishing at the bottom of the points table. Glenn Maxwell-led Stars have won four and lost as many in the eight games they have played thus far. On the other hand, the Renegades have three points to show from their eight games. They won only one game and lost six, while one was abandoned.

The Stars are coming off a seven-wicket loss to Sydney Sixers, which ended their winning streak of four matches. Maxwell has scored the most number of runs for the Stars this season. In seven innings, he has scored 191 runs, averaging 38.20 and having a strike rate of 170.54. He is incidentally the leading wicket-taker for his team, having bagged seven wickets at a strike rate of 13.71. His economy rate is also an impressive 7.81.

The only win this season for the Renegades came last month against Adelaide Strikers. Will Sutherland and Co. have lost two games in a row since that win. Jake Fraser-McGurk has been the top scorer for the Renegades. He has amassed 215 runs in seven innings, at an average of 30.71 and a strike rate of 164.12. Meanwhile, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Tom Rogers, and Sutherland have picked up seven wickets apiece. However, the Afghanistan spinner won’t be playing in the upcoming game as he is currently in India on national duty.

The last time these two sides faced each other earlier in the season, the Stars won by eight wickets, winning a rain-curtailed 14-over contest. They hunted down a target of 98 with 11 balls to spare. Teams batting second have won all three matches played at this venue this season. The average first-inning score has been 164. Renegades will look to exact revenge on their derby rivals and stop them from making it to the next round. The Stars, meanwhile, will be looking to rub salt into the wounds of the Renegades, who have had a forgettable campaign.