Two explosive opening partnerships will go head to head in a promoter's dream when NSW and Royal Challengers Bangalore clash in the Champions League Twenty20 semi-finals in India.

The Blues will unleash David Warner and Shane Watson, while the Challengers will counter with West Indies ace Chris Gayle and Sri Lankan skipper and master of improvisation, Tillakaratne Dilshan, in Bangalore tonight.

Warner is the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 205 following his breathtaking unbeaten 135 against Chennai.

Gayle and Warner are the tournament's master blasters, with Gayle the leading six-hitter with 16 and fellow left-hander Warner a distant second on nine.

Throw in at No.3 rising Indian star Virat Kohli, who was man-of-the match performance against SA for his dashing 70 off 36 balls, and Bangalore have a top order capable of demolishing any attack.

'They all hit the ball hard and they all hit it a long way, so you've got to find ways to minimise their scoring rates,' NSW paceman Stuart Clark told <I>AAP<P>.

'That means thinking on your feet and trying a few different things or trying things that are tried and tested.'

It looms as an exciting test for the Blues' two impressive young pacemen Patrick Cummins and Mitchell Starc.

Even on the slow Chennai wickets, Cummins' 150km/h pace was still troubling batsmen.

NSW may be able to call on an extra trump card, with fast medium all-rounder Shane Watson possibly poised to bowl his first overs of the tournament.

Watson has been spared bowling duties following his heavy workload in the recent Test series in Sri Lanka, but has been bowling in the nets in India.

'He may be the guy in this game that we need to turn to and he just gives us another option and a bit more variety which is always so important,' Clark said.

The Challengers dramatic last-ball two-wicket win over SA guaranteed them a home semi and forced NSW to leave Chennai, but Clark felt the Blues batsmen might appreciate the move.

'The ground is a little bit smaller, more runs have been scored there, I think our batters will probably be a lot happier with the Bangalore wickets, they are probably better batting wickets,' Clark said.

Bangalore also boast a couple of proven bowling match winners in spinner and renowned run miser Daniel Vettori as well as Victorian and Australian paceman Dirk Nannes.

Mumbai Indians play English county Somerset in the second semi-final in Chennai on Saturday  with the final set down for Chennai on Sunday.