Smith headlines stacked NSW squad for Bulls showdown

Steve Smith headlines a star-studded NSW squad for their crucial Marsh One-Day Cup match against Queensland at North Sydney Oval on Wednesday.

An elbow injury has kept Smith out since the Blues' Marsh Sheffield Shield loss to Victoria on February 19 at the Sydney Cricket Ground but now the right-hander has recovered and is ready to take on the Bulls in a day-night contest for the right to host the Marsh Cup final on April 11.

In Smith's only Marsh Cup outing this summer he posted 127 at North Sydney Oval in what was Pat Cummins' maiden match as Blues skipper.

"Steve worked really hard to get back fit and to add someone of his class is a major boost and we are looking forward to him hopefully playing his best cricket," said NSW coach Phil Jaques.

Smith will be returning with fellow internationals Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Daniel Sams to a squad that's already boasting the talents of captain Cummins, David Warner, Moises Henriques and Nathan Lyon.

"It's obviously fantastic every time we get these boys back playing for NSW," Jaques said.

"They are all world class and are great to have around the group."

Sean Abbott has been ruled out with injury after splitting the webbing on his hand early in NSW's Sheffield Shield defeat to Tasmania. Harry Conway, Nick Larkin and Liam Hatcher have also been omitted.

The match will be the last for the Indian Premier League-bound players, who fly out to the subcontinent with the Australian IPL contingent the following day.

It means if NSW reach the final, they will be without Smith, Warner, Cummins, Hazlewood, Sams and Henriques.

"The way we look at it is it's always a bonus when we have the Aussie guys back in the group but the fact they are going (to the IPL) means we may get the chance to give other guys the opportunity to step up," Jaques said.

"First port of call though is to make the final and to do that we need to try and win on Wednesday. Then we can prepare for a final which will be an exciting opportunity."

NSW sit second on the Marsh Cup ladder on 14 points, one point behind Queensland. The winner of Wednesday's match will host the final – either at Allan Border Field in Brisbane or Bankstown Oval in Sydney – while the loser will wait anxiously for the Western Australia-Tasmania game on April 8 at the WACA Ground.

Western Australia are in third place on 11 points and Tasmania in fourth on 10 points. Four points are awarded for a win, with up to two bonus points up for grabs, meaning both sides can qualify for the final regardless of Wednesday's outcome.

Neither NSW nor Queensland have tasted defeat in the Marsh Cup this season with three wins and one No Result each.

NSW Marsh One-Day Cup squad: Pat Cummins (c), Oliver Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Matthew Gilkes, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Kurtis Patterson, Daniel Sams, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner