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New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr will provide the Brisbane Heat with a point of difference when their WBBL season begins.

She scored a historic double century for New Zealand as a 17-year-old but it's Amelia Kerr's leg-spin that has the Brisbane Heat excited ahead of her WBBL debut.

The New Zealand import will join the defending champions, who will begin their campaign against the Sydney Sixers on Saturday.

Kerr turned 19 this week but already boasts three years of international cricket and will provide options with both bat and ball for captain Kirby Short.

While her unbeaten 232 against Ireland last year put Kerr's name on the map, batting won't be her primary role in a side stacked with run-scoring talent.

"Leg-spin in our competition is a genuine point of difference and she has a pretty cracking wrong-un," captain Short said.

"We've not finalised our batting order but we have such great options and to have 11 girls that can bat, it'll be about what they do with the balls they face that matters."

Short has good memories of the side's grand final defeat of the strong Sixers side last season, who will again be tough to beat with Australian stars Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner at the top of the order.

"They'll be disappointed they lost that game, for a team that's just incredibly successful," she said.

"We were able to find a way to beat them ... it's nice to get another opportunity on their patch to see how we go."

Fellow New Zealander Maddy Green joins Australian trio Beth Mooney, Jess Jonassen and Delissa Kimmince at the Heat this season, while 16-year-old squad member Charli Knott would be the second-youngest to play in the tournament if picked.