He may be his Test match nemesis but Peter Siddle isn’t sure his mental stranglehold over Kevin Pietersen will transfer to the Big Bash League arena.

The Renegades and the Stars square off in a Melbourne derby at the MCG on Saturday night in what is a must-win match for both with the finals looming.

Pietersen was dismissed by the Australian quick Siddle 10 times during his 104-Test career – more than any other opposition bowler.

While Siddle often won the war of attrition against the Englishman, he wasn’t sure if he would get the same result playing T20, where swashbuckling Pietersen’s big-hitting suits the explosive nature of the game.

The two faced the media ahead of the match, and gave each other some good-natured ribbing.

“He’s a fantastic bowler and I’ve always tried to keep him in the Australian Test side but now that he’s been dropped don’t be surprised if I get my average tomorrow and get out to Sids to try and get him back in,” Pietersen said.

Siddle said he hadn’t played Pietersen before in the short form of the game.

“It’s another game and no doubt KP will try and hit me over the fence,” Siddle said.

“T20 is probably a bit more his game so we’ll see how we go.”

The Stars beat the third-placed Sydney Sixers in their last outing, winning the Super Over after the scores were tied.

Pietersen made a valuable 54 off 43 balls.

“In T20 you need momentum and we were away from it in the first few games but we changed that around the other day against the Sixers,” Pietersen said.

“It was sensational – one of the best games of cricket I’ve been involved in.”

Siddle’s Renegades are looking to avenge an embarrassing loss the last time the teams met, when they compiled a record BBL low of 57.

They had a handy win over the Hurricanes last round.

“Everyone was embarrassed about that match (against the Stars).

“You can’t hide behind anything there.

“You’ve got to improve and I think that was the starting point there down in Hobart.”