Australian spearhead Mitchell Starc will make his long-awaited return to cricket on Friday when New South Wales meet South Australia in the JLT Cup.
Starc suffered a recurrence of a foot injury during Australia's Champions Trophy campaign earlier this year but appears ready to fire ahead of this summer's upcoming Ashes series with the old enemy.
The left-armer's return will send shivers through the batsmen in the domestic league as Starc's white-ball prowess is well known across the world.
Starc ripped the competition to shreds just two seasons ago, claiming a domestic record 26 wickets at 8.12 in six matches.
"I think that's a great lead-up for all the guys who are around the Test set-up, the guys who are looking to try and get in that team and some of us coming back from injury," Starc said, speaking ahead of the JLT Cup earlier this month.
"It's first-class cricket hopefully on some Test venues.
"It's probably a better lead-in than most of the last few summers where we've had one Shield game, two at tops."
New South Wales have a 1-1 record after two matches, losing to Western Australia before defeating Tasmania on Monday.
Starc also plans to play for the Blues in three Sheffield Shield matches before joining the Australian camp ahead of the opening Test against England beginning on November 23.
