Veteran spinner Brad Hogg has reluctantly turned down the chance to make a fairytale Sheffield Shield return for Western Australia, with his ageing body not up to the rigours of four-day cricket.

Hogg starred for the Perth Scorchers in the T20 Big Bash League, helping the side secure their second straight crown.

The 44-year-old fan favourite followed up those heroics with a haul of 8-77 last weekend while playing for club side Willetton.

WA sits on top of the Shield table following their eight-wicket demolition of South Australia at the WACA Ground.

But with pace trio Jason Behrendorff (back), Ryan Duffield (thumb) and Joel Paris (quad) ruled out for the remainder of the season, WA’s bowling stocks are low.

Hogg, a two-time World Cup winner, hasn’t played a first-class fixture since making the last of his seven Test appearances in 2008.

WA coach Justin Langer was keen to lure his friend out of retirement for the remainder of the Shield season, but Hogg put the team first by turning him down.

“We had an honest conversation, and he just felt at his age – you can get through T20 cricket, but probably not four-day cricket,” Langer said.

“He said he was stiff at tea for Willetton the other day.

“We saw in the pre-season that when he had to back up day after day in 50-over cricket, it was really hard on him.

“It would have been another fairytale story for Hoggy, but it’s not going to happen.”

WA will be back in action next week when they take on the Redbacks in a Shield clash at Glenelg Oval.

All-rounder Nathan Coulter-Nile, who only recently recovered from a hamstring injury, is likely to be given another match off to build up his bowling loads.

“He’s super fit now, which is really positive. He’s lost 8kg and his skinfolds are down to 43,” Langer said of Coulter-Nile.

“But in Shield cricket you have to bowl 15 or 20 overs a day. All the research tells us those sort of spikes put him more at risk.

“With hopefully five games to go, we can’t afford to take that risk yet.”

Spinner Ashton Agar is set to play against the Redbacks on a deck that is expected to offer assistance to the spinners, while AJ Tye is also in line for a call-up.