Bird returns for Big Bash League final

Melbourne Stars have brought swing bowler Jackson Bird into their side for today's KFC BBL Final, the right-armer replacing allrounder Evan Gulbis.

Stars captain Glenn Maxwell won the toss at Marvel Stadium and elected to bowl first for a match that's expected to be played in front of a crowd of more than 40,000 people.

Bird took 2-22 against the Renegades at Marvel Stadium earlier this season and he'll partner fellow swing king Daniel Worrall, who was the player of the match in their semi-final win over the Hurricanes earlier this week.

The Renegades have named an unchanged side from the XI that beat the Sixers in a thriller on Friday night.

The lead-up to the match has been bizarrely interrupted by two alarms, one at the team's hotel last night and one at the venue earlier today. Venue staff and players were forced outside the ground at around midday due to what officials later said was a false alarm.

The Stars have won the last six games against their cross-town rival at Docklands, but Renegades skipper Aaron Finch doesn't believe the Stars necessarily play the ground better or have won a mental edge.

"I don't think we've played at our best when we've played against here against the Stars in the past, particularly the last couple of games," said Finch.

"It's quite strange because the dimensions are almost the exact opposite here to what they are at the MCG.

"Some days you're slightly off and they've got a very good side, they've got a side that has got match-winners all throughout their side – as we feel we do.

"I don't think it's anything mental, it's just a little bit of execution on the day."

Melbourne Renegades: Aaron Finch (c), Marcus Harris, Sam Harper, Cameron White, Mackenzie Harvey, Tom Cooper, Dan Christian, Kane Richardson, Chris Tremain, Harry Gurney

Melbourne Stars: Ben Dunk, Marcus Stoinis, Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell (c), Seb Gotch, Dwayne Bravo, Jackson Bird, Adam Zampa, Dan Worrall, Sandeep Lamichhane