Sandhu grew up a decent slog shot away from the venue and said playing the 50-over match on his home turf held a special significance for him and his family.

The fiercely proud product of the western suburbs remembered how he and his younger brother Harmon were taught to play cricket in the backyard of the family's old Blacktown home by their father, Iqbal, a Sydney taxi driver who migrated to Australia from India over 30 years ago.

The twist to the tale is despite never having played the game, Iqbal oversaw his sons develop from budding backyard Bradmans and Lillees into quality players. Gurinder represented the Australian one-day team last year while Harmon, also a fast bowler, is a member of the Cricket NSW Academy.

"Some tough games, broken lights, mum's pot plants broken ...  a few fights," Sandhu recalled of the spirit in which those backyard battles were fought.

Sandhu, aged 22, has never hidden his pride in being a "westie" – it's why he wanted to join the Sydney Thunder's Big Bash League franchise – and hopes his rise inspires others to follow his footsteps. He also hoped for some local support – from the crowd and pitch – against a strong West Australian line-up

"It's my backyard," he said of Blacktown with a grin. "It's great to be playing somewhere where you've played a few games, for all the boys we have had experience on those wickets so hopefully we can turn up with an advantage."

While Sandhu has established a reputation as one of the nation's most promising short-form bowlers, one person expected to torment the visitors is Mitchell Starc, who has taken a total of 10 wickets for a measly 53 runs in his opening two matches of the summer.

Sandhu said he's used the last few weeks as his opportunity seek Starc's insights into his ascent to being acknowledged as the world's leading white ball bowler.

"It's beautiful," said Sandhu of watching Starc strut his stuff. "It's good to have him on your side, he's in great form taking a 6-for and four-for, taking 10 wickets in two games ... it's perfect, it's what you're always trying to achieve. For myself, I'm just watching and learning, I don't bowl at the same speed as him but I'm trying to pick out a few things he does that I can take into my own game."

The NSW attack lived up to its reputation as being the most venomous in domestic cricket when, after having to defend what many thought was a skinny 266 against South Australia on Wednesday, they skittled the visitors for 110.

"You [think] 'if I don't do well in a couple of games there'll be other guys pushing for selection'," he said of knowing Doug Bollinger and Josh Hazlewood are waiting in the wings for their start. "It gives you extra ammo to push harder."