Blaze v Chill: Hockey One champs recall star for semis

The Brisbane Blaze will bank on a never-say-die spirit and the inclusion of Kookaburras star Jake Whetton when they attempt to defend their Hockey One men's crown this weekend.

The Blaze's hopes of going back-to-back appeared doomed after opening their six-game season with three consecutive losses.

But the Blaze stormed home like a house on fire, winning their last three games to scrape into fourth spot.

The defending champions will face ladder leaders Canberra Chill in a blockbuster semi-final in Hobart on Saturday, with the winner progressing to Sunday's grand final against either HC Melbourne or the Perth Thundersticks.

In a huge boost to the Blaze, Whetton has returned from the Netherlands in time for the two-day finals extravaganza, which features both the men's and women's finals.

"It was a bit of a slow start, but we always had belief in the group. We knew the results would come our way eventually," Blaze star Corey Weyer said.

"It was definitely a sense of relief (to make finals). That was the goal at the start of the season.

"Now that we're here it's about, 'don't worry about what has happened, tomorrow is the most important game, anything can happen in finals'.

"Just because we're in fourth spot, we're not counting ourselves out. We've got a lot of belief in the group.

"To defend the title is always hard when we're being chased by everyone else.

"But there's not a lot of pressure on us at the moment. It would be nice to go back to back."

Canberra are shaping as the Cinderella story after finishing last in 2023.

The Chill secured top spot this season with five wins from six games, and they're desperate to send off the retiring Garry Backhus with a dream title.

"My first game was in 2007 and you just hoped to play one or two games," the 105-game veteran said.

"A hundred or so games later and (here I am) playing finals for my last time. It's really good."

There will be some big names returning for Melbourne's clash with Perth in the second men's semi-final.

Melbourne's bid to improve on last year's bronze medal finish has been boosted by the return of Kookaburra Nathan Ephraums and Brad Marais.

Kookaburra James Collins has recovered from a calf injury in time for Perth's finals campaign.