Coach Charlotte Edwards insists the Sydney Sixers' WBBL season is far from over, despite crashing to three straight losses to start the summer.
Already without Alyssa Healy through friendly fire to her finger from her pet dogs, Sixers sunk to another loss on Tuesday night with a three-wicket defeat to Brisbane Heat.
Title favourites before the season started a week ago, Sixers are now second last and face a hard road to climb back towards the WBBL's top four. But they are adamant all hope is not lost.
Edwards is quick to point to the fact Adelaide Strikers lost their first two games of last season before coming back to beat Sixers in the final and win the title.
Sixers themselves also lost the first six games of the opening season in 2015-16 before reaching the final.
"We all know that this T20 format is quite a fickle format," Edwards said. "We're not we're not playing badly, we're not being rolled. We're just not winning those those close moments.
"We've not taken our catches, we've not taken our opportunities at times. With the bat we've not really extended partnerships,. We've just got to keep keep turning up, it's a long tournament as we all know. The Strikers lost their first few games last year."
Sixers face Melbourne Renegades at Junction Oval on Sunday, as part of nearly a fortnight on the road after three straight losses in their home city.
They expect to have a clearer prognosis on Healy's injury by then, and whether she will return at some point during the WBBL. If she is ruled out for the season the Sixers have limited options on domestic replacement players with former NSW wicketkeeper Hannah Trethewy drafted in.
There were some positive signs on Tuesday night, with 17-year-old Kate Pelle moving well and taking two catches behind the stumps.
"Seeing someone like her now flourish in this environment is a real positive for us as a club," Edwards said. "Midge [Healy] was loving watching her taking those catches. There's a lot to come from her with the bat as well."
Ellyse Perry also looked in good touch with 49 while moving back to the top of the order. Sixers also expect to have her back bowling by early next month, as she fights back from a knee injury.