Only one team is assured of a place in the KFC Big Bash League finals with four regular season matches remaining.

The Brisbane Heat locked in their spot with an away win over the Melbourne Stars on Monday night, while six teams will fight it out for the other three spots between now and Saturday.

BBL table

Remaining matches

State of play:

Brisbane Heat

Highest possible finish: 1st

Lowest possible finish: 3rd

The competition's front-runners are now assured of a finals finish courtesy of Tuesday night's victory over the Stars. A win against the Renegades on Friday will wrap up top spot plus a home final. But they may have to rely on keeping their superior net run-rate if they lose, if they want to play at the Gabba again this season.

Swepson puts Stars in a spin

Melbourne Stars

Highest possible finish: 1st

Lowest possible finish: 6th

The Stars threw away a golden opportunity to wrap up a home semi-final by losing against the Heat on Tuesday night and are now a remote chance of missing the finals. Will be safe with a win against the Sixers on Saturday, and will still advance if they lose and the Renegades and Thunder are both also beaten. Otherwise it will come down to net run-rate, where they would still have reason to be confident unless they are thumped in their final game.

Stoinis' crushing cameo seals victory

Perth Scorchers

Highest possible finish: 1st

Lowest possible finish: 6th

The Scorchers should feel relatively comfortable about their position in the finals, thanks to a superior net run-rate on the Renegades, Thunder and Hurricanes. It would take a heavy loss to Hobart on Saturday to change that - however the Scorchers will be far more interested in winning well enough to secure a home semi-final.

Allrounder AJ Tye fires up Perth

Sydney Sixers

Highest possible finish: 1st

Lowest possible finish: 6th

Saturday's flogging at the hands of the Thunder serves as a perfect example of how a net run-rate can be destroyed so quickly. This Saturday's clash with the table-topping Stars will now be a must-win encounter if the Renegades, Thunder or Hurricanes taste success in the matches beforehand due to the Sydney side's poor run-rate.

Thunder smash the Sixers in Sydney derby

Melbourne Renegades

Highest possible finish: 3rd

Lowest possible finish: 8th

The Renegades' losses have traditionally been tight ones, and it means a win over the Heat on Friday would likely be enough to secure them a finals spot if the Sixers stumble against the Stars. Alternatively, they could also find their way into the finals if they win big and the Stars or Scorchers are beaten badly enough to overturn their net run-rate advantage. The Renegades will also have a keen eye on the Thunder's final-round clash with Adelaide on Wednesday, hoping the former don't win big enough to go above them on run rates.

Ferguson matches Laughlin with freak grab

Sydney Thunder

Highest possible finish: 3rd

Lowest possible finish: 8th

A win for the once-struggling defending champions could be enough to make the finals if results fall in their favour above them. The Thunder will need to make easy work of the last-placed Adelaide at home on Wednesday night before hoping the Heat beat the Renegades and Stars defeat the Sixers, while the Scorchers defeating the Hurricanes would also alleviate some nerves. Alternatively, the draw dictates that the team finishing fourth will do so on eight points, and the Thunder will need a massive win to ensure their net run-rate is the best of those in the likely logjam.

Fawad rips through the Sixers with four wickets

Hobart Hurricanes

Highest possible finish: 3rd

Lowest possible finish: 8th

Need something of a miracle, not the least of which snagging an upset home win over Perth on Saturday afternoon. Assuming they can't overturn the massive net run-rate disadvantage on the Stars or Scorchers, Hobart will need Brisbane, Adelaide and the Stars to win in the coming week, along with their own victory, to make the finals.

'Canes celebrate final-ball epic

Adelaide Strikers

Highest possible finish: 5th

Lowest possible finish: 8th

The only team with nothing to play for this week when they take on the Thunder. The Strikers have won just two games, with a number of their big guns from last season failing to fire in BBL|06.