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Brisbane Heat recruit Ben Laughlin says he is ready to be unleashed at the Gabba, although he considers it the hardest place to bowl in Twenty20 cricket.

As the Big Bash League's all-time leading wicket-taker, Brisbane Heat recruit Ben Laughlin would be forgiven for looking forward to calling the bouncy Gabba deck home.

But the former Queensland seamer admits the wicket's reputation had been the main reason why he had baulked at signing with the Heat in the past.

Eleven years after making his first class debut for the Bulls, the 37-year-old Laughlin will finally run out in Heat colours in their BBL opener against Sydney Thunder at the Gabba on Tuesday.

The traditionally green Gabba deck appeared to be the perfect setting for Laughlin as he looked to become the first to reach the 100 BBL wicket milestone this summer.

But Laughlin admits it took some convincing to leave the Adelaide Strikers with a season left on his contract and sign a two year deal with Brisbane.

"To be honest it (the Gabba) is one of the reasons I haven't played (for Heat) beforehand because it is one of the hardest places to bowl in the world," he said.

"It's the most beautiful batting strip you will come across (for Twenty20 cricket).

"It will definitely be a challenge but I am looking forward to getting a crack at it."

Laughlin said he was now comfortable with his variations to finally back himself at the Gabba and chime into a Heat attack featuring Afghanistan spinner Zahir Khan, another new addition, along with James Pattinson, Josh Lalor, Ben Cutting and leggie Mitch Swepson.

Laughlin starts his Heat stint leading the BBL wicket-takers list with 95 scalps from a record 75 games.

"I am definitely proud of how many wickets I have got. I am definitely looking to getting to 100 this season which would be great," he said.

"But if you play the most games you probably should take the most wickets.

"And I think Sean Abbott (85 wickets from 69 games) is chasing me down at a rate of knots. I think I will get swallowed up as soon as I finish up and I will be forgotten about."

Meanwhile, Laughlin did not rule out Pattinson - a Test squad member for the series opener against New Zealand in Perth - being released from national duty for Brisbane's BBL opener.