Bulls look towards Shield final in Perth

Queensland can take a significant step towards making the Sheffield Shield final with a win against Western Australia in Perth.

USMAN KHAWAJA
USMAN KHAWAJA Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Queensland have won the toss and will bowl first on a WACA green top against Western Australia in the penultimate Sheffield Shield round.

The Bulls can take a significant step towards the Shield final with a strong performance and will back their bowlers to extract some early life from the deck in overcast conditions.

Queensland are second on the table with four wins from eight games, three points clear of third-placed Victoria.

WA's hopes of reaching the final took a significant hit with a loss last week in Hobart against Tasmania.

They now have just two wins from eight games but are only 4.7 points behind the Bulls, so a win at the WACA will put them back in the hunt.

Despite sitting second, Queensland are coming off a 44-run loss to Victoria last week at the Gabba.

Captain Usman Khawaja returns along with opening bowler Michael Neser, allrounder Jack Wildermuth, right-hand bat Mark Steketee and legspinner Mitch Swepson.

Lachlan Pfeffer, Max Bryant, Xavier Bartlett, Brendan Doggett and Billy Stanlake make way.

From the side that lost to the Tigers, there are no changes to WA's XI with Liam Guthrie 12th man.

TEAMS

Western Australia - Shaun Marsh (capt), Sam Whiteman, Jake Carder, Marcus Stoinis, Cameron Green, Josh Philippe, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Matthew Kelly, Josh Nicholas, David Moody, Liam Guthrie.

Queensland - Usman Khawaja (capt), Bryce Street, Joe Burns, Nathan McSweeney, Sam Heazlett, Jack Wildermuth, Jimmy Peirson, Michael Neser, Mark Steketee, Cameron Gannon, Mitchell Swepson, Xavier Bartlett.