Adelaide Strikers – 1st (5W, 1L)

v Hurricanes (Jan 13), at Renegades (Jan 18)

The Strikers would have to fall in a big heap to miss the knockout stages of BBL|05, although coach Jason Gillespie is unlikely to be completely satisfied unless his team can clinch a home semi-final.

Gillespie's side are yet to taste defeat at the Adelaide Oval and the Strikers would be confident of extending that record should they finish in the top two at the end of the regular season.

Travis Head has been the star performer with the bat for the Strikers thus far with 251 runs at a strike rate of over 160 and just how he performs will be crucial to the fortunes of the Adelaide club.

WATCH: Head dines out on Heat Bowlers

A victory over the Hurricanes at home on January 13 will cement a finals berth, while another win on January 18 in Melbourne against the Renegades will clinch the minor premiership and a home semi-final.

Perth Scorchers – 2nd (4W, 2L)

at Hurricanes (Jan 10), v Stars (Jan 16)

Wins in their final two matches should ensure the Scorchers play a semi-final at #TheFurnace, but just one loss could see them having to travel for the knockout stages.

Quick Single: Big Bash Standings

Two losses could easily see Justin Langer's side fall out of the top four completely, so the Scorchers still have plenty to play for against the Hurricanes in Hobart and the Stars at home some six days later.

The good news is that skipper Adam Voges returns for the final two games, which should help offset the loss of the in-form Shaun Marsh to the Australian one-day side.

WATCH: Voges in good touch for Scorchers

Marsh is the Scorchers' leading run scorer in BBL|05 with 218 runs and Voges will be hoping he can step in and provide ample support to Michael Klinger, Cameron Bancroft and co.

Melbourne Stars – (4W, 2L)

v Heat (Jan 14), at Scorchers (Jan 16)

The win over the Renegades on Saturday night has the Stars in the box seat for a finals berth, although they still have some work to do if they want to claim a home semi-final.

If they can defeat the Brisbane Heat at the MCG on January 14 then it looks like it will come down to their final game against the Scorchers to decide whether the Stars host a semi-final or have to play it away from home - possibly in Adelaide or Perth.

WATCH: KP powering Melbourne Stars

A loss to the Heat will leave the door ajar for the chasing pack to overtake the Stars in the top four and might make their game in Perth on January 16 a must-win encounter.

Depth in the Stars camp is sure to be tested over the next week, with James Faulkner, Glenn Maxwell and Scott Boland all away with the national side.

Sydney Thunder – 4th (3W, 3L)

v Renegades (Jan 11), at Sixers (Jan 16)

It was all looking rosy for the Thunder when they won their first three matches of BBL|05, but a trio of losses has them precariously placed with just two games remaining.

Their clash at home against the Renegades on January 11 is like a mini elimination final and they will be hoping to have injured skipper Mike Hussey fit for the important game.

WATCH: Another half century for Mr Cricket

Hussey has been battling a hamstring concern and the Thunder will need him on the park if they are to make it into the knockout stages for the first time in their history.

A Sydney derby against the Sixers rounds out the Thunder's campaign and both teams could be chasing the last spot in the finals if other results go their way.

Hobart Hurricanes – 5th (3W, 3L)

v Scorchers (Jan 10), at Strikers (Jan 13)

The Hurricanes have the worst net run rate of the eight BBL teams this summer and this means they will probably need to win their final two matches to make the finals.

Their task was made more difficult when national selectors opted to include George Bailey in the Australia one-day squad to take on India, with the experienced batsman one of the Hurricanes best performers this season.

WATCH: George Bailey's remarkable tennis shot

Bailey is the fourth leading runs-scorer (240 runs) in BBL|05 and the Hurricanes will be hoping for Ben Dunk, Tim Paine and Kumar Sangakkara to step up in his absence.

A sold out crowd is expected for their must-win clash at home against the Scorchers on January 10, with a difficult clash against the ladder-leading Strikers in their final match on January 13.

Melbourne Renegades 6th (2W, 4L)

at Thunder (Jan 11), v Strikers (Jan 18)

Following their loss to the Stars on Saturday night, the Renegades will now need to win their final two encounters to have any chance of featuring in the knockout stages of the tournament.

It won't be an easy task though, with their remaining two fixtures against fellow finals contender the Thunder on January 11 and the top of the table Strikers on January 18.

WATCH: Bravo magic bamboozles Stars

The loser of the game between the Thunder and the Renegades will find making the finals extremely difficult, so expect both teams to give it their all during the Spotless Stadium encounter.

With Aaron Finch and Matthew Wade away on national duties, the likes of Cameron White, Tom Cooper and Dwayne Bravo will need to step up with the bat.

Sydney Sixers 7th (2W, 4L)

v Hurricanes (Jan 10), v Thunder (Jan 16)

Things don't look good for the inaugural BBL champions, but they can still sneak into the finals with two wins in their final two fixtures.

Two wins may not be enough, so the Sixers are going to have to rely on other results going their way if they want to feature in the knockout stages.

The good news is that both their final matches are at the SCG and are against other teams battling it out for places in the top four.

WATCH: Michael Lumb in action for Sixers

English import Michael Lumb (194 runs) has been the star player with the bat so far for the Sixers, while Test spinner Nathan Lyon has six wickets from just two games.

Brisbane Heat – 8th (1W, 5L)

at Sixers (Jan 10), at Stars (Jan 14)

The Heat are the only team already eliminated from finals contention, but they are more than capable of having a say on who makes it and who does not.

The Brisbane club can end the Sixers' chances of a finals berth with a victory in their penultimate game of the summer on January 10 and in the process give themselves a chance of avoiding the dreaded wooden spoon.

For that to happen they will need skipper Chris Lynn to fire, who has more runs than any other player in BBL|05 with a whopping 321 runs at an average of 64 and an impressive strike rate of more than 160.

WATCH: Chris Lynn amazes Gabba crowd

Test batsman Joe Burns will also feature during the final two games of the season and he could provide Lynn with the assistance required to help the Heat off the bottom of the table.

The Heat finish the season against the Stars at the MCG on January 14 and there could still be plenty on the line for the Melbourne side, who are chasing a top four spot.