The NSW Blues will be bolstered by the return of Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins sporadically throughout the Matador Cup, but can cope without last year's spearhead Mitchell Starc in their quest for back-to-back titles, according to coach Trent Johnston.
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Cummins, who was named in a 14-man Blues squad on Tuesday, has been recovering from a back injury and will be available for three of the Blues first four games.
"He's fine, he's going really well," Johnston said. "There are no problems with the back whatsoever. He'll play grade cricket this weekend and then we've got two trial games next Tuesday and Thursday against Tasmania and another round of grade cricket."
Blues staff will then decide if Cummins will take further part in the tournament, while Hazlewood is in line to feature in two of the three games heading into the finals given his high work rate after tours to the West Indies and Sri Lanka.
The Blues do not expect to have Starc available after he needed 30 stitches to repair a cut leg in a freak training mishap last week.
It is a big blow to their campaign after he ran riot on opposition top orders last season, snaring 26 wickets – 11 more than the next best bowler in the tournament – at the miserly average of 8.11.
"It's a bit of a disappointment for everyone around here [who was] looking forward to having him back in and around the team and I know he enjoys playing for NSW," Johnston said.
The Blues will turn to pacemen Doug Bollinger, Gurinder Sandhu and captain Moises Henriques as they push for consecutive one-day titles for the first time since the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.
"The boys are ready to play, every training session we're getting better," Johnston said "It's a good mix of experience and youth and I'm very happy with the way the 14 has shaped up."
With Steve Smith and Dave Warner out of action on Australia's tour to South Africa, Nic Maddinson, Ed Cowan, Kurtis Patterson and Peter Nevill will headline the Blues top order.
NSW have named two possible debutant quicks in Ben Dwarshuis and Harry Conway; the latter could be "crucial" in the middle overs on slow, low Sydney pitches as the tournament progresses.
"Harry's taken it upon himself to do extra work and get himself really fit," Johnston said. "He's come back in and he's been one of the form bowlers in and around the nets. He's performed admirably."
Johnston said off-spinner Chris Green, who has made the final squad, had been "impressive" during pre-season but the Blues would bank on the experience of Nathan Lyon and Steve O'Keefe during the middle overs.
"A lot was spoken about Starc's performance last year in the Matador but the two spinners in O'Keefe and Lyon were great," Johnston said. "To have those guys back in and around the group again is very exciting and knowing you've got 20 overs you can punch out with two international cricketers is very exciting."
Arjun Nair, the NSW spinner who possesses a mystery carrom ball, will be named in the Cricket Australia XI later in the week.
Johnston said he was hopeful Blues youngsters Liam Hatcher, Jonte Pattison and Ryan Gibson would come into consideration for the Cricket Australia XI that will take play NSW on October 7.
NSW Blues squad: Moises Henriques (c), Doug Bollinger, Ryan Carters, Harry Conway, Ed Cowan, Ben Dwarshuis, Chris Green, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Steve O'Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Gurinder Sandhu.
