The Brisbane Heat are banking on their 'Italian Stallion' Spencer Johnson to rise to the occasion yet again in Saturday's BBL grand final against the Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium.
The return of Test cricket players Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja and Matt Renshaw helped turn the Heat's season around in a remarkable surge to their first grand final since 2014.
Although those players have since left to rejoin Australia's Test squad in India, their impact has had a lasting effect - including on young players like Johnson.
Johnson has come of age at the Heat this season, with the left-arm paceman's value on full display in the Heat's shock win over the Sydney Sixers on Thursday night.
The 27-year-old snared 3-28 to help his side restrict the Sixers to 9-116, and he looms as a key figure on the fast and bouncy Optus Stadium deck in the decider.
'What a find he's been for us,' Peirson said of Johnson, who has Italian heritage.
'I know (assistant coach) Boof Lehmann has been all over him for a while now and we can see why. He's shown his class.
'He's a bowler who knows his game so well at his age, 27. He's gone through some trials and tribulations at Adelaide (with injuries).
'He's a bit of a show pony the Italian Stallion, so he will look forward to getting out and playing in front of 55,000 and show what he can do, which is bowl fast.'
The Heat have been so impressed by Johnson this season that they are keen to re-sign him.
But they will face plenty of competition from the Adelaide Strikers, who are eager to lure him back their way.
'I think Dizzy (Strikers coach Jason Gillespie) is chasing his signature as well, and so teams should be,' Peirson said.
'He's a left armer, big tall boy who can bowl fast. He can hold a bat, and he's good in the field as well. He's the complete package.
'We'd love to keep him and get him across to the Queensland Bulls as well.
'That's very much on the radar, but DIzzy has come sniffing now as well.'
Meanwhile Heat captain Jimmy Peirson has urged his players to embrace the Orange Army in the BBL grand final, saying it might be their one and only chance to play in front of such a big crowd.
All tickets have been sold for Saturday's blockbuster decider at Optus Stadium, with hopes the match will smash the previous Perth Scorchers crowd record of 52,960 set at the semi-final against Hobart in 2018.
The Scorchers are searching for a record fifth BBL crown, and they will start as hot favourites against a Heat side who have bucked all odds to make the grand final from fifth place.
Brisbane were sitting last in mid-January, but have won seven of their last eight games - including three elimination finals on the road - to put themselves within touching distance of the title.
Peirson was in a relaxed mood on Friday afternoon - less than 24 hours after his team defeated the Sydney Sixers by four wickets at the SCG to book their spot in the grand final.
The 30-year-old wants his team to embrace the occasion.
'We understand we're probably underdogs,' Peirson said. 'That's OK. If anything that takes the pressure off us.
'We're going to come out and enjoy this spectacle - 55,000 at one of the greatest stadiums in the world.
'We haven't got a point to prove. We're going to embrace the crowd. Most of us probably won't play in front of a crowd that big ever again.'
