PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 01: Andre Russell of the Thunder prepares to bowl during the Big Bash League match between the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder at WACA on January 1, 2017 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)

Incoming Melbourne Stars recruit Andre Russell may have to be separated from his teammates in the moments prior to running out onto the pitch.

The West Indies all-rounder has been rumoured to join the Stars ahead of the new year, with the Stars looking to add to their undermanned squad that lost to the Sixers by 152 runs on the opening night of the new Big Bash season.

The 33-year-old will arrive off the back of a sensational campaign with Abu Dhabi T10 side the Deccan Gladiators, who claimed the championship over the weekend with Russell named man of the match in the final.

Russell will now be eyeing a move down under to link up with his third BBL franchise, however will face strict quarantine directions when arriving in Sydney and then moving to Victoria.

Andre Russell during the Big Bash League match between the Sydney Thunder and the Perth Scorchers at Spotless Stadium on January 7, 2016 in Sydney, Australia.

Stars general manager Blair Crouch revealed to The Herald Sun that Russell may be required to be placed in differing dressing rooms and take separate transportation to aid Cricket Australia's management of the arriving international.

“Everybody’s coming in via Sydney and then they’ll be there in isolation for 72 hours,” Crouch said on potential recruits, with Qais Ahmed and Ahmed Daniyal also tipped to link up with the Stars.

“We just try and find appropriate accommodation where they’ve got a balcony and they can enjoy a bit of fresh air.

“As soon as they arrive in Melbourne there’s still an integration period, which technically is another four days.

“But because we want to get them into the team as quickly as possible, we’ll work with Cricket Australia on trying to find a way where we can integrate them a bit more quickly.

“Exactly what we have to do to abide by a different level of protocols we’re yet to have confirmed.

BBL Challenger - Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 06: Haris Rauf of the Stars celebrates taking the wicket of Jay Lenton of the Sydney Thunder during the Big Bash League Challenger match between the Melbourne Stars and the Sydney Thunder at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 06, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“Maybe it is separate transportation (to the MCG), maybe it is separate dressing rooms – any of that falling under a different level of protocol we have no issue in executing.”

The Stars' prospects for the remainder of the BBL season will be buoyed by the returns of injured trio Marcus Stoinis, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Joe Burns, while Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf is also set to join his teammates later this month.

Melbourne will be looking to redeem themselves this weekend as they clash with the Sydney Thunder on Friday (MCG) and Sunday (Spotless Stadium), before facing the Sixers once again next week.