Captain Tristan Stubbs believes the Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s playoff experience could prove decisive in the first playoff qualifier against the Pretoria Capitals at Kingsmead on Wednesday.

The two-time SA20 champions have qualified for the playoffs in every edition of the tournament and have featured in all three finals contested to date. Stubbs feels that familiarity with high-pressure matches gives his team an edge.

“The fact that we have a lot of the same guys who have played in these games before helps a lot,” Stubbs said. “They know what it takes to get the job done, which definitely helps.”

AFRICA PICKS: Sunrisers, Capitals battle for place in the final

The Sunrisers have been boosted this season by the form of opener Quinton de Kock, who joined from Durban’s Super Giants. The Proteas veteran is the competition’s second-leading run-scorer and has also impressed behind the stumps with a series of sharp catches.

However, Stubbs cautioned that past form and momentum count for little once the playoffs begin.

“Quinny has been awesome for us,” he said. “The way he has led from the front, on and off the field, and how good he’s been with the youngsters, has been massive.

“It’s nice to know we’ve played well throughout the season, but heading into the playoffs, you start at 0-0. Momentum is nice, but it doesn’t mean much at all.”

ALSO: Breetzke overcomes lean patch to lift Sunrisers

Meanwhile, Pretoria Capitals captain Keshav Maharaj will be hoping to draw on his long-standing knowledge of Kingsmead conditions as his side look to upset the Sunrisers.

“I’ve played first-class cricket here for the last 20 years, so I understand the conditions,” Maharaj said. “Things have changed a bit with a new groundsman coming in, so it’s about assessing conditions on the day and getting the boys rallied to play with high energy and intensity.”

Unlike the Sunrisers, the Capitals have struggled for consistent starts at the top of the order this season, aside from Shai Hope’s century at Kingsmead against DSG in the group stages. Much of the responsibility has fallen on Sherfane Rutherford to rebuild innings from the middle order.

Maharaj admitted the lack of top-order contributions is an area his team is keen to address.

“Bar one game, as a top order we haven’t got the starts that we wanted,” he said. “Shai Hope got a hundred here last time, and that was probably our best start.

“It’s something we’re addressing and hopefully we can rectify it in the games that matter most.

“We are still in search of playing a clinical game of cricket in all facets,” he added. “Hopefully that holds us in good stead and we can peak at the right time in this competition.”

The winner of the first playoff qualifier, which starts at 5:30pm, will progress directly to the final at Newlands on Sunday.

The loser will get a second chance in the second qualifier playoff at the Wanderers on Friday, against the winner of Thursday’s eliminator between the Paarl Royals and Joburg Super Kings.

Photo: Ron Gaunt/Sportzpics