After the Melbourne Stars' shock loss to the Melbourne Renegades on Saturday, the Strikers can lock in a top-four position in Sunday's clash at Canberra's Manuka Oval.
If they lose, the Stars will get a second chance to win their way through against Hobart on Monday night.
But Adelaide will fancy their chances of knocking a Thunder side who have won just one of their seven completed matches this season and only have avoiding the wooden spoon left to play for.
The Strikers are unchanged from the side that poleaxed the Hurricanes by eight wickets on Thursday night, with No.3 batter Jake Weatherald looking to continue the brilliant form that brought him 80 runs off 32 balls.
Thunder captain Chris Green won the toss and elected to bat, with superstar opener David Warner to get things going with Alex Hales.
Their batting card has been strengthened by the inclusion of Alex Ross and Matt Gilkes in the middle order.
Sydney Thunder: Alex Hales, David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Ollie Davies, Alex Ross, Matt Gilkes, Daniel Sams, Chris Green (c), Nathan McAndrew, Liam Hatcher, Tanveer Sangha.
Adelaide Strikers: Matt Short (c), D'Arcy Short, Jake Weatherald, Adam Hose, Thomas Kelly, Jamie Overton, Harry Nielsen, Henry Thornton, David Payne, Cameron Boyce, Lloyd Pope.
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