The Stars traditionally have been decimated by defections come the ODI leg of the summer, with tensions rising last summer when Marcus Stoinis was drafted into the Australian side. He was used as 12th man against Pakistan in Sydney, with the Stars complaining he could have been released to have played in the BBL.

Those issues are unlikely to be reprised this summer, for leg-spinner Adam Zampa and Stoinis are the only two Stars named in a 14-man ODI squad to face England from next week.

Stars chief executive Clint Cooper said on Friday Maxwell's focus was on doing what's required for the Stars.

"I had a good chat with Maxi. He is certainly disappointed but he sees the opportunity ahead of him. It gives us a great opportunity to have him with the Stars for the next seven games," he said.

Maxwell was a controversial omission from the Australian squad. Selection chairman Trevor Hohns pointed out he had averaged only 22 in his past 20 ODI innings and, while that was a factor, there appears more at play. That skipper Steve Smith said Maxwell, the 2015 World Cup winner, needed to train smarter in terms of preparing for long-form cricket, coming at a time when Maxwell had admitted he can "rub people up personally", suggests this was a decision based more than just on pure runs.

The best way for the Victorian to respond is through his work on the field, and the Stars will look to him in Saturday night's derby against the third-placed Renegades at the MCG to deliver a match-winning knock.

The pressure is at maximum velocity on the Stars, who are winless after three matches and, should they lose against the Gades, may need to be blemish free through their remaining six matches to remain in finals contention.

The Green Machine have struggled with bat and ball, and now find themselves dealing with their equal worst start to a season, having also found themselves in trouble in BBL04 before going on a five-game winning streak.

It's not just the new season that has brought problems, though, for the Stars have lost six in a row and five of their past six at the MCG, when last season is taken into consideration.

Zampa, with only the one wicket in three games, said the Stars were ready to rebound.

"Hopefully, there is a bit of fire in the belly after the way we started. We are looking to turn it around," he said.

"The first game [against the Heat] was an attitude problem, too. We weren't quite switched on in the field ... other than that we have just been poor, really."

Dumped Test batsman Peter Handscomb will return and is likely to take the wicketkeeping gloves, according to Zampa, while paceman Jackson Coleman and Seb Gotch have also been included in the squad. Handscomb replaces veteran Bob Quiney.

The Stars need a major score from at least one of their top-four batsmen. Ben Dunk, the two-time leading BBL scorer, has only 11 runs from three innings, Luke Wright is also struggling, while Pietersen (30) and Maxwell (50 off 39) threatened to get going in the rematch against the Heat at the MCG but couldn't deliver what was needed.

Kevin Pietersen is desperate for a big score for the Stars. Photo: Julian Smith

Pietersen said he has eschewed long stints in the nets but had a solid hit-out in the heat at the MCG on Friday.

The two Melbourne franchises split derby bragging rights last summer. The Renegades stunned the Stars on their home court with a seven-run win before 71,162 fans. Brad Hogg was the hero of the night with three wickets. A week later, the Stars returned serve at Etihad Stadium, powering to a 46-run win with Kevin Pietersen (76) and Zampa (3-19) having key roles.

Zampa said the Stars needed to curb Renegades power hitters Aaron Finch and Cameron White, who have been in good form.

"They have got a great bowling attack and dangerous players with the bat," Zampa said. "It's going to be a tough day. Hopefully, we are switched on for it."