SCG strikes out for Shield final

NSW will be forced away from the SCG should they host the Bupa Sheffield Shield final, with Major League Baseball's season-opening series taking over the ground that weekend.

The Blues, currently equal first on the Shield ladder, on Monday nominated Canberra's Manuka Oval as their designated home ground for the decider should they finish top after their clash with Western Australia, also at that ground, this week.

Quick Single: Your guide to the final round of Shield action

WA, South Australia and NSW are locked on 26 points heading into a tense final round of matches starting on Tuesday, with the Warriors possessing the superior differential.

But with the Blues and the Warriors going head-to-head, destiny is in their hands, and a victory will secure a place in the final regardless of what happens with the Redbacks in their match-up against Tasmania in Hobart.

An outright victory or first innings points to the Blues, and with results in the SA-Tasmania clash falling their way, would ensure they host the final, starting on March 21.

But it won't be at the SCG, which has been transformed into a baseball ground ahead of the season-opening series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks which will be beamed into millions of homes across the planet.

The series opens on Saturday, March 22 with game two the following day, while Team Australia will play the Dodgers on the preceding Thursday, and Diamondbacks on the Friday as warm-up fixtures.

Cricket NSW chief executive Andrew Jones said the fact the Blues were playing their final round fixture at Manuka played a role in choosing the venue.

"A number of venues were considered, but fundamentally it was a cricket decision and our coaching staff felt that Manuka Oval was the right choice to host the Shield Final should the situation arise," he said.

"The Blues are playing at Manuka this week, so playing the final there will provide continuity and familiarity of conditions."

The West End Redbacks face a similar problem, with the Rolling Stones taking top billing at Adelaide Oval on the date of the Shield final, forcing the Redbacks to play the final at beachside Glenelg Oval, should they host the decider.

Image above from SCG Facebook