Slater flying to Brisbane

Dumped Test batsman Michael Slater could yet figure in NSW's opening Pura Cup match against Queensland when he arrives at the Gabba tomorrow morning on standby for rising star Michael Clarke.

Slater was called to Brisbane tonight and he could be joined in the NSW team by rookie paceman Doug Bollinger - a park cricketer just 18 months ago - as the Blues sweat on last-minute injury concerns before they meet the three-time champions.

The 21-year-old Clarke has a back problem which hampered him during the Blues' impressive one-day victory over the Bulls in Sydney last Sunday, while paceman Stuart Clark is battling an ankle injury.

Clark bowled in the nets this morning and the Blues will give the injured players until the last hours before tomorrow's game to prove their fitness.

Otherwise, it's a golden chance for Slater to end the wretched run which began when he was dropped from Test cricket in August 2001 during an erratic Ashes series.

He then slid out of the NSW team, leaving very little hope that the 32-year-old would add to his 74 Tests.

Bollinger's fortunes have risen as quickly as Slater's have plummeted, leaving the 21-year-old left-armer on the verge of his first-class debut less than a year after he played lower grades for Fairfield-Liverpool.

But the Blues will be desperate for Stuart Clark to play after the ACB-contracted paceman took match figures of 6-90 in his last visit to the Gabba.

He will be a key man for new captain Simon Katich, who is stepping into one of Australian cricket's most intense rivalries.

Katich said the Blues were about to learn where they stood in interstate cricket after wearing the wooden spoon during a dismal last season, which included an eight-wicket loss to the Bulls at the Gabba.

Katich will also learn about the rivalry between NSW and Queensland after quitting Western Australia during the off-season for a new start in Sydney.

"I've sensed it already from speaking to the guys and we've approached this week thinking that it's a good chance to see where we're at," Katich said.

Katich has crossed the country trying to revive the promising career which netted him a sole Test appearance at Headingley during last year's Ashes tour.

He is much admired in Queensland after scoring heavily against the Bulls during their recent stoushes with Western Australia, often taming the Bulls on a Gabba wicket which promises its usual spice tomorrow.

The match will be significant for veteran Queenslander Stuart Law, who was a shock axing from the one-day team last week.

The former Test batsman, who turns 34 on Friday, will become Queensland's most capped interstate first-class player when he plays his 124th match, surpassing Sam Trimble.

It also marks Law's first match since handing over the Queensland captaincy to Jimmy Maher after eight years at the helm.

"I'm not really into statistics but to knock off a guy like Sam Trimble, who is a living legend in Queensland cricket, makes it a special day," Law said.

The Blues will play leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, who is a genuine threat at the Gabba, while the Bulls are expected to overlook left-arm spinner Matthew Anderson for pacemen Michael Kasprowicz, Ashley Noffke, Joe Dawes and Damien MacKenzie.