Sheffield Shield round four preview

After three of the most scrutinised weeks in domestic cricket in recent memory, the JLT Sheffield Shield continues this week with three matches kicking off later this week.

New South Wales sit atop the Shield table going into round four but the Blues will be the hardest hit by national selection with the likes of Steve Smith, David Warner, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon all set to feature in Australia's Magellan Ashes opener against England on Thursday.

Below, we preview each of the matches and squads for the upcoming Shield round.

South Australia v Tasmania, beginning Thursday (Nov 23-26)

Allrounder James Faulkner has suffered another injury setback and will miss Tasmania's Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia.

Faulkner was due to travel with the Tigers squad on Tuesday to play his second match after returning from a knee injury before suffering a blow to his ribs whilst batting at Blundstone Arena.

With the severity of the injury still to be determined, Simon Milenko has replaced him in Tasmania's squad after his two-game stint with the Cricket Australia XI in their tour matches against England.

Prolific seamer Chadd Sayers will miss for South Australia after he was called up to Australia's squad for the first two Ashes Tests, with Cameron Valente called into the Redbacks squad.

Dumped Test keeper Matthew Wade will have an opportunity to make his case for a recall, while South Australia opener Jake Weatherald will hope to continue his good form after striking twin tons in the Redbacks' comeback win over WA last week.

South Australia squad: Travis Head (c), Callum Ferguson, Alex Carey, Tom Cooper, John Dalton, Jake Lehmann, Joe Mennie, Kane Richardson, Jake Weatherald, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa, Cameron Valente

Tasmania squad: George Bailey (c), Gabe Bell, Alex Doolan, Jake Doran, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Simon Milenko, Sam Rainbird, Tom Rogers, Jordan Silk, Matthew Wade, Beau Webster.

Victoria v NSW at North Sydney Oval, beginning Friday (November 24 -27)

With skipper Peter Handscomb away on Ashes duties, Aaron Finch will take the reins as reigning champions Victoria look for their first Sheffield Shield win of the season.

The Bushrangers, chasing their fourth straight Shield title, take on runaway ladder-leaders NSW in an important clash at North Sydney Oval.

Selectors made four changes to the squad as they look to kickstart Victoria's faltering title defence.

Fawad Ahmed, Dan Christian and Sam Harper were dropped from the squad that fought out a draw with Tasmania last round, while Handscomb will take his place in Australia's line-up for the first Test at the Gabba.

The fifth-placed Bushrangers welcome back spinner Jon Holland from knee surgery, as well as veteran Cameron White, while young batsmen Matthew Short and Eamonn Vines have also been named in the squad after showing impressive form in recent weeks.

For NSW, Ed Cowan headlines a raft of changes following the exit of the Blues' Test stars, with Nick Larkin, Steven O'Keefe and Will Somerville all coming into the side. 

O'Keefe makes his return after successfully recovering from a broken finger, having played the first two days of the current four-day Futures League match against Western Australia at Blacktown. 

NSW squad: Moises Henriques (c),  Sean Abbott, Doug Bollinger, Harry Conway, Trent Copeland, Ed Cowan, Daniel Hughes, Nick Larkin, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Stephen O’Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Will Somerville

Victoria squad: Aaron Finch (c), Scott Boland, Travis Dean, Seb Gotch, Marcus Harris, Jon Holland, Matthew Short, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Siddle, Eamonn Vines, Chris Tremain, Cameron White.

Western Australia v Queensland, beginning Friday (November 24 -27)

Highly-rated wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson has received a huge endorsement from Queensland after the Bulls announced he'll become their 53rd first-class captain this week.

Tipped as a future Test prospect, Peirson will stand in for regular skipper Usman Khawaja – who has been called up to Australia's squad for the Ashes – in Queensland's Shield clash against Western Australia at the WACA.

The 25-year-old has just eight first-class matches to his name and only took the gloves on a full-time basis from Chris Hartley, the most prolific keeper in Sheffield Shield history, this summer following the veteran's retirement in March.

Queensland's 13-man squad to travel to Perth also features returning batsman Charlie Hemphrey, fresh off a Futures League century, and paceman Cameron Gannon. 

Western Australia squad: TBC

Queensland squad: James Peirson (c), Joe Burns, Brendan Doggett, Luke Feldman, Cameron Gannon, Charlie Hemphrey, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson, Sam Truloff, Jack Wildermuth.