The Strikers open their BBL04 campaign against Melbourne Stars at Adelaide Oval tonight, with Ludeman a contender to fill a slot at the top of the order.

Former Perth Scorcher Craig Simmons, veteran Brad Hodge, who has crossed from Melbourne Stars, and Travis Head are also candidates to take on the role.

Simmons smashed two centuries in the BBL last season. His effort against the Strikers came off 37 balls — the fastest ton in competition history.

Assistant coach Hodge has put his hand up to open, while Head had the role for South Australia in the domestic one-day cup.

Kieron Pollard, who smashed six sixes in an over in a trial game on Tuesday, Ryan ten Doetschate, Trent Lawford and Johan Botha also offer batting power.

Ludeman, 27, said he was unsure where coach Darren Berry wanted him to bat but would relish the opportunity to open.

“We’ve got preparation today. We’ll find out more then,” he said yesterday morning.

“I opened in a practice game (on Tuesday) and did so a couple of seasons ago.

“If the opportunity came around, I’d open. It’s good fun in Twenty20 cricket. You’ve got a licence to slog it.

“Starting off, that’s what I did in a lot of my Twenty20 cricket, open the batting, especially with Carlton and in grade cricket set-ups.”

Ludeman said he welcomed the arrival of the BBL. The tournament runs from tonight until January 28, with Sheffield Shield cricket resuming on February 7.

“All the players love playing it and getting out there. It’s a festive time of year, everyone is happy and the kids love it,” he said.

He believed the Strikers had assembled a side capable of taking out the title.

The batting stocks make for impressive reading,  while Chadd Sayers, Kane Richardson, Ben Laughlin and Shaun Tait form a destructive pace attack.

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa, off-spinner Botha and left-arm orthodox tweaker Jon Holland offer slower options with the ball.

“I think we’re shaping up pretty well. We had a good hit-out yesterday with a couple of trial matches,” Ludeman said.

Ludeman enters the BBL with encouraging returns for South Australia under his belt.

His best efforts have come against Victoria, making 49 not out in a one-day match in October and backing up with 106 at shield level last month

He has also been clean behind the stumps — 16 catches and two stumpings in the shield has him only two dismissals behind Queenslander Chris Hartley.

But his biggest challenge has been away from the cricket field.

Ludeman, like the Australian cricket community, is still coming to terms with the death of Phillip Hughes, who had a “loveable, addictive personality”.

“Most of the guys are starting to get back into (cricket) now. Big Bash has come at a good time to find the fun and the love for the game,” he said.

“Obviously during that period it made you question a lot of things. It (Big Bash) has probably come at a good time. The squad is as tight as it’s ever been.

“It’s been a tough period but it’s been good to have good mates around and family and friends.

“The support SACA (South Australian Cricket Association) and Cricket Australia have provided has been good.”