Victoria hope the week off will play big dividends later this season for paceman James Pattinson as he aims for a Test cricket recall.
The Bushrangers rested Pattinson from the Sheffield Shield match against NSW, which starts on Friday at the SCG.
The injury-plagued fast bowler has played every game this season and Victorian chairman of selectors Andrew Lynch said it was strictly a matter of managing Pattinson.
Lynch added Pattinson will return for the Shield match from November 14 against WA at the MCG.
"James's bowling workloads are at a level that requires him to rest from this match," Lynch said.
Pattinson unleashed a fearsome spell last Friday in the second innings of the Shield win over Queensland, blasting out Test recalls Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja.
It was a performance that underlined why there is so much anticipation about when he might be in line for his own Test return.
"He was bowling the absolute house down," said teammate Peter Handscomb.
"He was bowling fast, he was swinging it and it was awesome to see.
"It's just something where we want to make sure he gets through the entire season for us first.
"Then by getting through the season, it puts his hand up to play for Australia."
Last month, Victorian coach David Saker said national selectors would be mad if they rushed Pattinson back into the Test side.
"If he can get through two or three Shield games, two things will happen; he will be confident in his body, plus his action will be a bit more grooved and he probably will be ready by then," Saker said.
That prompted a pointed public response from Australian coach Darren Lehmann.
"I think David Saker should concentrate on coaching Victoria and leave us to pick the side for Australia," Lehmann said.
"And if James Pattinson is in and ready to go then we think highly of him. We won't rush him back in if he's not right. He's got to be ready to play."
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