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Scott Bailey

Johnson puts heat on old WBBL teammates

Sammy-Jo Johnson is trying to help the Thunder to their first final in five years. (AAP)

Sammy-Jo Johnson spearheaded Brisbane Heat into their maiden WBBL final two years ago, but she's now hell-bent on stopping their shot at a three-peat.

Johnson was one of the Heat's heroes the last time they played the Sydney Thunder in a semi-final, hitting 33 and taking 1-12 from four overs to be player of the match.

But come Wednesday night's semi-final between the two teams at North Sydney Oval, she finds herself in a very different predicament.

One of the big-name exits out of the Heat at the end of last summer, Johnson is now an experienced head at the Thunder trying to help them to their first final in five years.

"That last-ball catch on the boundary with Haidee Birkett (to remove Nicola Carey and win the match), I cried," Johnson said of the 2018-19 semi-final.

"I couldn't believe we were going to be playing in a WBBL final.

"It's quite ironic (now).

"I'm glad it's a semi so we can knock them out, stop the three-peat and help this Thunder team to a title.

"It is weird to try and stop it, but I am hoping for an individual three-peat."

Bubble life has meant Johnson has regularly crossed paths with her former teammates, and made a point to get in their ear on Monday night.

As far as she is concerned, on the field the roles are firmly reversed on where they were two years ago.

Just like the Thunder and the Sydney Sixers side Brisbane beat in the final, the Heat are now the hunted with two titles under their belt.

And the Thunder are the young up-and-comers, with experience up top in Heather Knight and Rachael Haynes but four players aged 21 or under.

"We had such an up and down season (at the Heat in 2018-19) and everyone doubted us," Johnson said.

"That feeling is what I have with the Thunder now, a lot of people probably do think we can't beat the Heat.

"They've got senior players and are coming off back-to-back titles. The pressure is all on them. It's all on them."

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