The Heat could have hosted a final at the Gabba with a win over the last-placed Renegades, but they miss out altogether after they slumped to a seven-wicket loss at Marvel Stadium in the 56th and last game of the regular season.

Brisbane would have leapt from seventh to fourth with a win, but they finish a frustrating campaign in seventh.

The result means the Thunder hang onto fifth spot and will play the Hurricanes in The Eliminator at Hobart's Blundstone Arena on Thursday.

The winner of that match will take on Adelaide Strikers, who finished third, in The Knockout at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

The Melbourne Stars, who locked up top spot with three games remaining, will host the second-placed Sydney Sixers in The Qualifier at the MCG on Friday night, with the winner to host The Final on Saturday, February 8.

The BBL's new five-team finals format gives the top two teams at the end of the regular season a double chance, so the loser of The Qualifier will go on to play the winner of The Knockout in The Challenger.

The winner of that match on Thursday, February 6, will progress through to The Final.

BBL09 FINALS

WEEK ONE

* THE ELIMINATOR (winner into The Knockout)

Hobart Hurricanes (4th) v Sydney Thunder (5th) - 7.40pm AEDT, Thursday, January 30 at Blundstone Arena

* THE QUALIFIER (winner to host The Final)

Melbourne Stars (1st) v Sydney Strikers (2nd) - 7.15pm AEDT, Friday, January 31 at the MCG

* THE KNOCKOUT (winner into The Challenger)

Adelaide Strikers (3rd) v Winner of The Eliminator - 7.40pm AEDT, Saturday, February 1 at Adelaide Oval

WEEK TWO

* THE CHALLENGER (winner into The Final)

Loser of The Qualifier v Winner of The Knockout - Thursday, February 6 at TBC

* THE FINAL

Winner of The Qualifier v Winner of The Challenger - Saturday, February 8 at TBC

* Failed to qualify: Perth Scorchers (6th), Brisbane Heat (7th), Melbourne Renegades (8th)

Australian Associated Press