NSW have won the toss and elected to bowl under overcast skies against South Australia at the SCG, as they seek an unlikely Sheffield Shield final berth.

The Blues are in last place with 23 points on the Shield ladder, but an outright victory with other results falling their way could earn them a spot in next week’s final – which remarkably they could even host.

South Australia, on 26 points, are better placed to reach the decider but would still need maximum points to assure themselves of a spot.

The Redbacks have recalled former Test paceman Peter George and Gary Putland while the understrength Blues will be without their Test contingent Shane Watson, David Warner, Michael Clarke, Moises Henriques, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and Brad Haddin.

Teams:

NSW: David Dawson, Scott Henry, Daniel Hughes, Nic Maddinson, Ben Rohrer (capt), Peter Nevill, Trent Copeland, Stephen O’Keefe, Gurinder Sandhu, Josh Hazlewood, Chris Tremain. 12th: Adam Zampa.

SA: Alex Carey, Sam Raphael, Michael Klinger, Callum Ferguson, Travis Head, Jake Brown, Tim Ludeman, Johan Botha (capt), Chadd Sayers, Gary Putland, Peter George. 12th: Cullen Bailey.