Axed Test batsman Nic Maddinson is poised to make a return to Sheffield Shield after his break from cricket.
Maddinson has been named in the NSW squad for their match starting on Saturday against Tasmania in Wollongong, where he played his junior cricket.
Dropped from the Test squad after averaging just 6.75 in his three matches, the 25-year-old batsman began an indefinite break from the game earlier this month for "personal reasons".
But he came back last week in a second-tier Futures League match for NSW in Perth.
Blues head coach Trent Johnston said a decison on whether Maddinson played against Tasmania would be made in the hours before the match but he believed he was ready.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"I spoke to Maddo in the middle of last week before the Futures League game and he was in a good place," said Johnston.
"I'm happy that he's back in the right frame of mind to be playing first-class cricket. He's an outstanding talent and we've seen that time and time again.
"(State talent manager) David Freedman said he's been very good around the Futures League team and played well in both of his innings even though he got starts and didn't go on with them.
"(His selection) will depend on how we set the team up and whether we stick with six batters or go with the extra batter and go in a quick light.
"That'll be a decision that the coaching staff and (captain) Moises (Henriques) will make on the morning of the game," Johnston said.
NSW squad: Moises Henriques (capt), Sean Abbott, Doug Bollinger, Harry Conway, Trent Copeland, Ed Cowan, Daniel Hughes, Nick Larkin, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Kurtis Patterson, Wil Somerville.
