The Sydney Sixers have proved themselves the Big Bash's ultimate road warriors, leading the ladder despite being dealt the toughest hand by COVID-19.
The Sixers' win over the Sydney Thunder on Wednesday night put them six points clear at the top, despite being set to play no games at home this summer.
The Thunder are second while also being set to play the whole season on the road, although they do have Manuka Oval in Canberra as a home from home.
It's enough to make you think the old home-ground advantage is dead, until you look at the rest of the league, just past two-thirds of the way into the competition.
Of the 22 matches played by teams in their home state so far this season, the hosts have won 15.
Nowhere has that been clearer than for the Perth Scorchers, who won just one from five on the road, compared to four straight at Optus Stadium.
All that makes the Sixers' record even more impressive, with mind games inside the squad convincing their players the time away can be a positive.
"Always as a group, we have loved playing away from home," wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Philippe said.
"The circumstances are a little bit different and it's had its challenges. But we always have loved playing away.
"So we've come into this season knowing that we're not going to be home much.
"We've just really come together as a group. We spend a lot of time together and really just try to keep everyone going.
"And just keep keep telling each other that we love playing away. So that's probably been the biggest part of it."
It comes after the Sixers dropped just one game at the SCG last year, and claimed victory in the final there.
With games moved due to Sydney's COVID-19 outbreak, their draw now sees the Sixers play in every state bar their own.
Meanwhile, despite Wednesday night's loss, the Thunder's record remains at 4-2 there this season, having previously played home games there each summer.
Captain Callum Ferguson said he hoped his team would be able to use Manuka Oval for a home final if his team keeps their top-three spot.
"It's like a second home for us," he said.
"We'd obviously love to be playing at Sydney Showground Stadium in front of our own fans. Most of our fans come from that part of the world.
"But certainly we do come out here and we do see a lot of Sydney Thunder paraphernalia around.
"We've been really pleased to be able to play lots of games here this year so far and, and hopefully we'll be able to play some games into the finals."
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