A thumb injury has ensured an enforced Sheffield Shield rest for Usman Khawaja before Australia's Test tour of South Africa.
The Queensland skipper was not one of the five members of Australia's 15-man Test squad to sit out the Shield round starting on Thursday.
However he will still find himself on the sidelines for the second-placed Bulls' Shield clash with Tasmania at the Gabba this week.
Khawaja pulled out to avoid aggravating a lingering thumb complaint first suffered last month batting for Sydney Thunder in the BBL.
It was his only match before leaving next week with Australia for their four Test tour of South Africa.
The bruised left thumb had also forced Khawaja to miss the Thunder's last regular season match.
"I'm about 85 per cent there but there's a chance I could aggravate it again and with the tour coming up, everyone felt it was best to err on the side of caution," Khawaja said.
"It's disappointing because it's an important match for us but I've plenty of confidence in the boys to get on with things."
Queensland has replaced Khawaja with Charlie Hemphrey.
Queensland Bulls:
Jimmy Peirson (capt), Brendan Doggett, Luke Feldman, Charlie Hemphrey, Sam Heazlett, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Lachlan Pfeffer, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson, Jack Wildermuth (12th man to be named at the toss).
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