Steve Smith and David Warner meet on the field as Sydney Sixers play Sydney Thunder

There is some doubt about Warner’s availability Friday night because he missed Monday’s game against the Melbourne Renegades with a knee injury, but a Thunder spokesman said he is expected to play.

“Obviously he still hits really well,” Smith said of his former teammate.

“He’s had a few really good innings in the last couple of weeks, so he’s definitely a dangerous player for the top players.”

In addition to this, Ashes hero Mitchell Starc will make his first appearance for the Sixers in 11 years, setting up a tantalizing new-ball battle with Warner.

Smith said Starc was “bowling like an absolute wizard at the moment” and was looking forward to his two-match cameo stint in the BBL.

“He’s a very hard worker,” Smith said.

“His body has such toughness. He knows his body inside and out. He was incredible over the summer… hopefully he can put on a similar showing for the Sixers in the next few games.”

Warner, Smith and Starc, 35, are all entering the twilight period of their illustrious careers and Smith’s philosophy is to “take it one day at a time”. However, he also believes that players should be judged on their performance and not on their birth certificates.

“Age is just a number,” Smith said.

“If you can still do your job and you’re the best at it, to me everything else doesn’t matter.

“That can only help you gain experience in big matches and I think that showed in the Ashes series.

“We had an experienced squad and experienced players know how to win big moments and I think we did that better than England.”

The Thunder, who sit last in the standings after two wins in nine games, will be playing for pride against their crosstown rivals, but there is much more at stake for the Sixers.

After four wins and no results in their first eight games, the Sixers are one point behind the top four.

But if they can beat the Thunder and the Brisbane Heat on Sunday, and the other two results also go in their favor, the Sixers can secure home-field advantage as the top seed heading into the finals.

“I think if the results go our way we can finish first,” Smith said.

“An insider has said this before. Now we’ll just focus on what we can do.”

“Hopefully we can win our next two games and that will take care of itself… It will be good for the team if it is near the bottom. Every game is important. If we win our next two games it won’t matter.”

Meanwhile, amid reports that the annual pink-ball Test could be canceled for the next Ashes series in Australia, Smith publicly confirmed the possibility, although he admitted he might not be involved.

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“I’m not a big fan of the pink ball,” he said. “I can’t see things very well, so I’m very happy.

“I don’t think I’ll be around for that. I guess it’s a bit of a shame for those who like the pink ball, but I don’t think you need that in the Ashes series.”

“I think you’ve seen the crowds we’ve had for the series in all the red-ball games here. I think we’ve broken records in almost every game. So I don’t think we need it.”