Blow for Vics with Pattinson ruled out of Shield final

Veteran Victoria quick James Pattinson has been ruled out of the Marsh Sheffield Shield final with a calf injury while Australian Test squad member Marcus Harris is in doubt after testing positive to COVID-19.

Pattinson picked up the injury in last week's innings and 51-run defeat to Western Australia at the WACA, the same venue where the two sides will play off in this week's decider, which begins on Thursday.

The 31-year-old was one of Victoria's better players in the match that cost them an opportunity to host the final with 3-96 from 24 overs.

Victoria will be boosted by the return of Ashes hero Scott Boland who returned from Pakistan over the weekend after Australia's 1-0 series triumph.

Young batter Jake Fraser-McGurk and fast bowler Cameron McClure – who made his first-class debut in last week's final-round loss to WA – have also been omitted from the squad.

Allrounder Jono Merlo and Fergus O'Neill have been added to Victoria's 14-player squad for the final alongside Boland.

"We've got a very fresh Scott Boland back into the attack, you'd like to think the workhorse that he is that he's going to do a lot of bowling," Victoria coach Chris Rogers told RSN Radio this morning. 

Harris, meanwhile, will be given every opportunity to play after returning a positive rapid antigen test on Monday. 

"Marcus Harris is on standby to travel to Perth to join up with the squad. Harris recorded a positive RAT on his return from Australia's tour of Pakistan. He will continue to test over the next two days to confirm whether he is able to travel, subject to a negative result," Cricket Victoria said in a statement. 

The rest of the Victorian squad depart Melbourne for Perth today.

"That's thrown a spanner into the works, it hasn't been smooth sailing for us," Rogers said. 

"We're hoping that he'll test negative in the meantime so he'll still be able to play by Thursday, but obviously that will be touch and go. 

"We'll be happy to remind Western Australia it's been a long time between drinks for them and there's a lot of pressure on Western Australia to not make mistakes because there's probably a lot of expectation about them winning their first Sheffield Shield in 20-odd years.

"We're going to have to play better no doubt ... but we've seen what Western Australia are going to do."

Western Australia are expected to take an unchanged squad and playing XI into the decider.

Victoria squad: Peter Handscomb (c), Scott Boland, Travis Dean, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Jon Holland, Nic Maddinson, Jono Merlo, Fergus O’Neill, Mitch Perry, Will Pucovski, James Seymour, Matt Short, Will Sutherland

The Marsh Sheffield Shield final will be broadcast live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports, as well as streamed free on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app