Former Test No.3 Usman Khawaja will lead Queensland in this week's Sheffield Shield final, attempting to win his first against his native NSW at Allan Border Field from Thursday.
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Khawaja missed selection when the Blues won a title in 2007-08 and he lost a final in 2011 before opting to shift north in 2012.
Since then he was on tour with Australia when the Bulls first lost then won deciders against Tasmania - most recently in 2018.
Now on the outer of the national squad, the 34-year-old Khawaja has been a constant at the helm this season and has a chance to tick a rare box against a Blues side fresh off their one-day triumph on Sunday.
Fellow Test discard Joe Burns, and Matthew Renshaw, Australian No.3 Marnus Labuschagne and fringe national bowlers Michael Neser and Mitch Swepson will line up for Queensland, Swepson bowling beautifully in his return earlier this month from a stress fracture in his neck.
The Bulls welcome in-form allrounder Jack Wildermuth back into the 12-man squad. .
NSW claimed the title last year when COVID-19 forced a premature end to the season.
The IPL season means NSW will be without key foursome David Warner, Steve Smith, Pat Cummins and Moises Henriques, but still feature an all-Test bowling trio in Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
If the five-day match is drawn, the winner will be determined under the same bonus point system for runs scored and wickets taken that's used during the regular season.
Australian Associated Press
