Perth have won the toss and sent the Sydney Sixers in to bat first in Sunday night’s Big Bash League match at the SCG.

The defending champion Sixers are shooting for their 13th consecutive Twenty20 victory, while the Scorchers are aiming to get off the bottom of the Big Bash ladder.

Perth captain Simon Katich decided to bowl first, putting faith in the fact that every match this season (8 from 8) has been won by the chasing team.

Nic Maddinson is out for the Sixers with a groin injury, and Josh Lalor will carry the drinks.

Stephen O’Keefe has been promoted to open the batting for the home team alongside skipper Brad Haddin, with David Warner on Test duty.

The Scorchers have suffered a significant fall from grace from being runners’ up last season, and will be desperate to turn things around after back-to-back losses to start their campaign.

Shaun Marsh is back from injury to open the batting for the Scorchers.

Sixers: Brad Haddin (capt), Stephen O’Keefe, Steve Smith, Moises Henriques, Dan Smith, Jeevan Mendis, Dominic Thornely, Ian Moran, Brett Lee, Sunil Narine, Luke Feldman, Josh Lalor (12th man).

Scorchers: Herschelle Gibbs, Shaun Marsh, Marcus North, Simon Katich (capt), Adam Voges, Hilton Cartwright, Tom Triffitt, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Alfonso Thomas, Brad Hogg, Michael Beer, Marcus Stoinis (12th).