No respite ahead for Tigers as Bulls' pacemen return

Already feeling the heat after a series of substandard performances, it was confirmed today that Tasmania's batsmen will face another stern examination of their new talents in their first game of the New Year.

In each of their last four Pura Cup innings, the Tigers have been unable to reach totals of 200 and, against a visibly strengthened Queensland attack, the task is likely to become no easier.

Formerly injured pace bowling duo Michael Kasprowicz and Ashley Noffke each return to the Bulls line-up and it is also tipped that national representative Andy Bichel may be a late inclusion if he is not included in the Australian eleven that takes the field in the Fifth Test against West Indies in Sydney on January 2.

Kasprowicz has already made one appearance at state level this summer (against New South Wales in a Mercantile Mutual Cup match) but, until now, has still not regained peak fitness after undergoing shoulder surgery in the off-season.

Following a promising start to the season, Noffke, meanwhile, has endured a frustrating period on the sidelines as the legacy of sustaining a bruised heel. Noffke will play if Bichel is a part of the Fifth Test team; otherwise, it is likely that the latter will appear for the Bulls instead.

The Tigers host the Bulls in a Pura Cup fixture at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart from January 3-6. The two sides will also come together in a Mercantile Mutual Cup match the following day.

XXXX QUEENSLAND BULLS v Tasmanian Tigers, Pura Cup, Jan 3-6, Hobart: Stuart Law (c), Jimmy Maher, Jerry Cassell, Martin Love, Andrew Symonds, Lee Carseldine, Wade Seccombe, Michael Kasprowicz, Scott O'Leary, Adam Dale, Joe Dawes, Ashley Noffke/Andy Bichel.

XXXX QUEENSLAND BULLS v Tasmanian Tigers, Mercantile Mutual Cup, Jan 7, Hobart: Stuart Law (c), Jimmy Maher, Martin Love, Andrew Symonds, Geoff Foley, Lee Carseldine, Wade Seccombe, Scott Prestwidge, Michael Kasprowicz, Scott O'Leary, Adam Dale, Ashley Noffke/Andy Bichel.