Feldman finale? All to play for in Shield clash

Queensland workhorse Luke Feldman has confirmed this JLT Sheffield Shield season will be his last but is hopeful of extending his career one last game as the Bulls prepare to meet Western Australia at the WACA.

The Bulls currently sit fourth on the Shield ladder and need to win outright, earn bonus points and hope point allocations work out for them in the NSW-Tasmania clash.

They look set to be boosted by the return of Billy Stanlake, who appears set to play his second Shield game of the summer – and fourth overall – after being recalled to the squad in place of batting allrounder Nathan McSweeney.

It will be the 63rd Shield match for Queensland for Feldman over a 10-year career, and the 34-year-old is planning to return to full-time work with the Queensland Police Force once his playing days are done.

Feldman, who was a police officer in Far North Queensland when he shot to prominence in cricket, famously made an arrest in the middle of the night during his Shield debut in Victoria when he apprehended an intruder who had broken into his hotel room.

"I have enjoyed playing with and against some outstanding cricketers and this game will be no different, other than it is probably my last for Queensland," he said.

Western Australia have made three changes to their squad that beat Tasmania late on the final afternoon in Hobart last week to keep their Shield season alive.

Bowlers Lance Morris and Josh Nicholas have been added to a 14-player squad, while pace spearhead David Moody has been ruled out of the clash with back soreness.

WA coach Adam Voges predicted another game dominated by fast bowlers on the WACA deck where the Dukes ball gets plenty of swing – "particularly with the easterly wind".

"It's going to be a tough week for the batters, no doubt about that. Fast bowlers will feature pretty prominently over the next few days," Voges said.

"A finals appearance would be huge. It has certainly been a goal for this group and everyone has worked incredibly hard.

"To get to this point of the season and still be in the mix is really important. We've had some ups and downs along the way in different formats but we've put a real emphasis on our performances in Shield cricket this year and I'm pleased we can come into the last game still in the mix."

The Warriors enter the final round trailing NSW by just 1.56 points but will need a favourable result in the Blues' fixture against Tasmania to help them into the final against Victoria.

If NSW fail to win in Hobart, an outright for the Warriors against Queensland would likely see them into the Shield final. But if NSW win, WA will need to collect bonus points against the Bulls and hope NSW don't do the same.

Queensland Bulls: James Peirson (c), Joe Burns, Luke Feldman, Cameron Gannon, Sam Heazlett, Charlie Hemphrey, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson

Western Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Cameron Bancroft, Hilton Cartwright, Liam Guthrie, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kelly, Lance Morris, Josh Nicholas, Liam O'Connor, Joel Paris, Josh Philippe, D'Arcy Short and Sam Whiteman.