Brisbane have been set a victory target of 151 by Adelaide in their Big Bash League clash at the Gabba.
The Heat, playing without talismanic captain Chris Lynn after he injured a hamstring in the warm-up, restricted the Strikers to 6-150 after sending them in to bat.
Ex-Heat batsman Matt Renshaw top-scored for the Strikers with 32 off 28 deliveries in an inning by the visitors which struggled to get out of first gear.
Phil Salt (25 off 28), Jonathan Wells (31 off 26) and Harry Nielsen (28 off 30) also contributed for the Strikers, who are chasing a second victory in their fourth match of the tournament.
The winless Heat, who suffered back-to-back defeats in their opening two matches in the Canberra hub, were led by young quick Xavier Bartlett who took 3-24 off his four overs in an impressive display.
Australia A paceman Mark Steketee also claimed 2-31 in his spell, dismissing Renshaw and Salt with consecutive deliveries after the pair had added 60 runs for the second wicket.
The Heat will have to chase the target without Lynn after the destructive batsman pulled up lame while doing fielding drills before the match.
Having already participated in the toss, the Heat had to get approval from the Strikers to replace the 30-year-old with Simon Milenko in their starting XI.
Strikers coach Jason Gillespie gave the Heat the OK to bring in the allrounder with wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson taking over the captaincy for the home team.
