Denton out of Pura Cup match

Darren Pattinson could make his first-class debut against South Australia at Melbourne on Friday. Pattinson, the Victoria fast bowler, has been called into the 12-man squad after Gerard Denton suffered a recurrence of the severe shin soreness that kept him on the sidelines before Christmas.

Pattinson, 28, was plucked from obscurity for the limited-overs team earlier this season when the majority of Victoria's contracted fast bowlers were injured. He played five games and proved a steady and economical performer.

Brad Hodge has also returned to the line-up and will captain Victoria after his brief and unsuccessful foray into the Australia one-day team. Rob Quiney was omitted from the 12 to make way for Hodge.

South Australia, who prop up the Pura Cup table in last place, will need a turnaround in form to challenge the second-placed Victoria. The Bushrangers are coming off a confidence-boosting come-from-behind victory against New South Wales last week when they chased down 360 in the fourth innings of a low-scoring game.

Victoria squad Nick Jewell, Lloyd Mash, Michael Klinger, Brad Hodge (capt), David Hussey, Jon Moss, Andrew McDonald, Adam Crosthwaite (wk), Shane Harwood, Michael Lewis, Darren Pattinson.

South Australia squad Tom Plant, Jason Borgas, Matthew Elliott (capt), Daniel Harris, Mark Cosgrove, Ben Cameron, Shane Deitz (wk), Ryan Harris, Jason Gillespie, Dan Cullen, Shaun Tait, Cullen Bailey.