Watson aims for Boxing Day

Shane Watson is aiming to be fit for Boxing Day after he conceded he would not be ready for the third Test starting in Perth on Thursday. Watson's recovery time for the injury was originally a couple of days, but three weeks after straining his hamstring he is still waiting for the all-clear.

In the lead-up to the first Test he put in a lot of work in an attempt to play, but he now believes the extra effort has delayed his plans. "I've been trying, with all the medical staff, trying to get up for the first Test and then the second Test, it has probably prolonged it a little bit," Watson told AAP. "It hasn't really had a full-on chance to absolutely heal."

Watson was not picked in Queensland's squad for the domestic one-day game today but is hopeful of being ready for the match against South Australia on Wednesday. Despite missing the early Tests, Watson was concerned about doing further damage that would affect his ODI prospects.

"There's an unbelievable amount of cricket coming up," he told AAP. "We've got to think about not just trying to get right for the third Test, but making sure that it won't be any longer than that. I will be right for around Christmas time at least, in a worst-case scenario.

"There is so much cricket to come, with the one-day series [against England and New Zealand] and then the World Cup. There's one thing I will be, I will be absolutely fresh compared to maybe the guys who have toiled away so hard over the last couple of Tests."

The Bulls will be boosted by the inclusion of Matthew Hayden for today's match, with Lachlan Stevens left out of the 12-man squad. Queensland are on top of the FR Cup table with four wins from their six matches.

Queensland FR Cup squad Jimmy Maher (capt), Matthew Hayden, James Hopes, Andrew Symonds, Clinton Perren, Craig Philipson, Michael Buchanan, Chris Hartley (wk), Andy Bichel, Ashley Noffke, Chris Simpson, Mitchell Johnson.