Tweakers seem certain to play a major role in the domestic Twenty20 competition in the wake of last season's game-changing efforts of Adelaide Strikers' surprise packet Rashid Khan.

Khan took a league-leading 18 wickets at 13.83 during BBL07 before missing the Strikers' two finals matches because of Afghani national duties.

But this season, in an ominous sign for the Strikers' chances of going back to back, he'll be around for the whole tournament and is licking his lips at the chance to play in a final.

"I'm totally here for the Big Bash," Khan said.

"I have national commitments after the Big Bash, I'm fully available.

"I'm looking forward to making it through this year and getting to the finals and hopefully playing in a final."

Of the four players that led the BBL in terms of bowling average last season, three were spinners - Khan, Nathan Lyon and Pakistan's Shadab Khan.

And for the 2018-19 edition, clubs have recruited accordingly.

One of the most interesting prospects is Mujeeb Ur Rahman, a 17-year-old Afghani off-spinner picked up by the Brisbane Heat who will make his BBL debut.

He has already played all three formats for his country and took 14 wickets in the Indian Premier League.

"We've got a world-class spinner in Mujeeb who is going to bring a lot to the table," said paceman James Pattinson, a fellow Heat recruit.

"And as we've seen over the years spinners are really key parts of every team.

"You look at Adelaide last year and Khan pretty much won the tournament for them."

After often under-performing since the competition's inception, the Melbourne Stars have also invested heavily in spin.

Australian ODI spinner Adam Zampa will play a big role for them, as will Nepalese legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane before he departs mid-season.

The Sydney Sixers have Test tweaker Lyon, who is desperate to prove he belongs in Australia's 2019 World Cup squad.

Also in the Sixers' arsenal is red-headed wunderkind Lloyd Pope, a legspinner who is being touted as an Australian Test prospect after starring in the Under-19 World Cup.

Across town at the Sydney Thunder, they're bullish about Fawad Ahmed, Arjun Nair and Chris Green getting them over the line.

Offspinner Nair is returning from a three-month suspension after being cited for a questionable bowling action during last year's BBL.

He has been earmarked as a future Australian representative and showed his class when he destroyed Adelaide's top order with 3-36 last December.

Last year's losing finalists Hobart will have mostly the same line-up but have added allrounders Johan Botha and James Faulkner.

Pace will once again be Perth's strength with the Scorchers boasting enviable depth in their fast-bowling line-up with Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff and Joel Paris.

Likewise, the Melbourne Renegades will lean on their quicks with the likes of Chris Tremain and Kane Richardson keen to press their claims ahead of the World Cup.

Australian Associated Press