Test stars return to Shield action

Nathan Lyon, Adam Voges, Jackson Bird, Joe Burns and Chadd Sayers will all turn out for their respective states as the battle for berths in the Sheffield Shield final intensifies on Saturday.

NSW Blues have added Lyon to their squad to face Tasmania at Blundstone Arena starting Saturday, with the off-spinner a welcome addition to the Blues spin department, as left-arm tweaker Steve O'Keefe remains on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a fractured finger.

NSW have also called former Australia Under-19 fast bowler Harry Conway into the 13-player squad, while batsman Nick Larkin and paceman Gurinder Sandhu have been omitted.

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Lyon, who took 10 wickets in two Tests against New Zealand last month, said he was looking forward to being back with the Blues.

"It's an exciting time, we’re at the business end of the season and I'm looking forward to going to Hobart and playing some positive cricket,” the Test spinner said.

"We'll need to play some good cricket, we need to win two games to make sure we're in that final, so it's a good opportunity for all of our boys to go out and perform well."

Lyon said he was impressed with what he had seen so far from 17-year-old off-spinner Arjun Nair, who took two wickets on debut for the Blues in their win over South Australia last week.

"He's a very talented young player. I had a bowl with him for the first time yesterday and I think he's got a big future in the game. His skill is unbelievable."

The Blues need to win the clash to keep their Shield final hopes alive. Tasmania, sitting on the bottom of the table with two games remaining, are the only team out of the running for the final, but their line-up will be bolstered by the return of Jackson Bird.

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Voges will return to captain the Alcohol.Think Again Western Warriors as they take on the West End Redbacks at the WACA Ground, slotting into a batting line-up already boasting Shaun Marsh, who returned from New Zealand for WA's previous Shield match against Queensland and promptly made a century.

However the Warriors will be without Australia T20 representatives Ashton Agar and Nathan Coulter-Nile, while Sam Whiteman has been ruled out with a right finger injury.

Whiteman has been experiencing ongoing pain and swelling from a fracture sustained last November, with his progress to be monitored. Leg-spinner Liam O’Connor and seamer Josh Nicholas have also been added to the squad.

The Redbacks welcome back paceman Chadd Sayers, while fast bowler Nick Benton also returns to the South Australia side, with Cameron Valente and left-arm spinner Tom Andrews omitted.

Last-start centurion Marnus Labuschagne is the unlucky man to make way as Queensland welcome back Test batsman Burns for their Shield clash with Victoria at the Gabba.

Following his 170 in the second Test of the Qantas Tour of New Zealand, Burns represents a huge boost to the myFootDR Bulls team.

Meanwhile Victoria will be without regular captain Matthew Wade, with young batsman Peter Handscomb taking the reins for the first time.

Tasmania v NSW Blues, Blundstone Arena

Tasmania squad: Bailey (c), Bird, Doolan, Dunk, Fekete, Gulbis, Kingston, McDermott, Tim Paine, Rainbird, Tom Triffit, Beau Webster

NSW squad: Nic Maddinson (c), Sean Abbott, Doug Bollinger, Ryan Carters, Trent Copeland, Harry Conway, Ed Cowan, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Arjun Nair, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer

Western Australia v South Australia, WACA Ground

WA squad: Adam Voges (c), Cameron Bancroft, Hilton Cartwright, Marcus Harris, Michael Hogan, Michael Klinger, Shaun Marsh, David Moody, Josh Nicholas, Liam O’Connor, Joel Paris, Nathan Rimmington, Ashton Turner

SA squad: Travis Head (c), Nick Benton, Alex Carey, Mark Cosgrove, Jake Lehmann, Joe Mennie, Elliot Opie, Sam Raphael, Alex Ross, Chadd Sayers, Jake Weatherald, Daniel Worrall

Queensland v Victoria, Gabba

Queensland squad: Chris Hartley (c), Joe Burns, Peter George, Sam Heazlett, Charlie Hemphrey, James Hopes, Chris Lynn, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson, Jack Wildermuth.

Victoria squad: Peter Handscomb (c), Fawad Ahmed, Scott Boland, Dan Christian, Travis Dean, Sam Harper, Ian Holland, Jon Holland, Rob Quiney, Jake Reed, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Tremain, Cameron White.