Nicholson and Langer return for run into finals

Matthew Nicholson has recovered from an ankle injury to re-join New South Wales in their last three Pura Cup rounds as they chase a spot in the final. The Blues play Western Australia, the competition leader, in Perth from Thursday and need first-innings points to catch their rivals.

Justin Langer has boosted the Warriors after overcoming a serious bulging disc injury that flared before the Boxing Day Test and forced him out of the Pura Cup match against Tasmania last month. Langer will captain the side and with Brett Dorey, the right-arm fast bowler, replaces the retired Kade Harvey and Mike Hussey, who is with the national one-day side in New Zealand.

New South Wales moved to second place on 28 points after beating Queensland at Bankstown Oval last month, which was the match where Nicholson injured his ankle. He missed the following two ING Cup games but will leave with the team for Perth tomorrow.

"It's the biggest game of the year for us," Nicholson, who has 29 wickets at 19 this season, said. Nicholson believes he and his teammates, Stuart Clark (27 wickets at 16) and Nathan Bracken (29 at 16), are contenders for the Australia side.

"Our three blokes are bowling as well as anyone in the country," he said. "All of us are capable of playing at the next level, it's just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Everyone is champing at the bit to get over [to Perth] - if either side takes six points it sets them up really well for a home final."

New South Wales Brad Haddin (capt, wk), Nathan Bracken, Doug Bollinger, Stuart Clark, Ed Cowan, Phil Jaques, Greg Mail, Stuart MacGill, James Packman, Matthew Phelps, Dominic Thornely, Matthew Nicholson.

Western Australia Justin Langer (capt), Murray Goodwin, Ryan Campbell (wk), Beau Casson, Brett Dorey, Ben Edmondson, Steve Magoffin, Shaun Marsh, Marcus North, Chris Rogers, Adam Voges, Brad Williams.