The Melbourne BBL derby has received a much-needed boost with Australia's ODI players to be released to play for the Stars and Renegades.
Cricket Australia has confirmed Renegades captain Aaron Finch and Stars quartet Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa and Peter Handscomb will be available for Saturday night's marquee clash at Marvel Stadium.
The five are part of Australia's ODI squad and could be named for the third and final game against India at the MCG on Friday.
Neither the Stars nor Renegades had been expecting to have their ODI representatives available for the derby should they be picked in Australia's XI.
However CA have clarified that all players not picked in the Test squad to face Sri Lanka will be freed for BBL duties from January 19.
CA earlier this month declared Finch unavailable for the Renegades in Geelong on the same day he was dropped from Australia's Test side in Sydney.
Zampa was also ruled unavailable for the Stars despite being overlooked for the series-opening ODI against India in Sydney.
The return of the ODI contingent is a timely boost for the derby.
Losing household names such as Maxwell to Australian service is nothing new for the BBL but it comes at a time when the competition is grappling with dwindling crowds amid a distinct lack of international drawcards.
Maxwell, Stoinis and Zampa were part of the Stars' lineup for the New Year's Day derby which attracted 46,418 fans to the MCG.
Just two years earlier, a stunning 80,883 fans packed the same venue to see superstar internationals Kevin Pietersen and Chris Gayle in derby action.
Officials are expecting a solid attendance for Saturday night's fixture but neither the fifth-placed Renegades or last-placed Stars are firing on all cylinders.
Stars stand-in skipper Nic Maddinson hoped to see his marquee teammates back for the derby but conceded it would come down to CA's requirements.
"I hope they're available. I know they all want to play," he said.
"I know when they left, they were pretty keen to get back for that next game straight after the one-dayer but it obviously depends on that team and who's released.
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