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WA will be missing a host of their biggest stars in the upcoming Sheffield Shield final against Tasmania, but they still face a selection conundrum.
Makeshift Tasmania opener Matthew Wade will skip the start of the IPL to compete in the Sheffield Shield final, but Western Australia won't be as lucky with Mitch Marsh and Cameron Green.
Wade is contracted with the Gujarat Titans in the IPL and their first match is on March 24 against the Mumbai Indians.
But instead of suiting up in the razzle dazzle of the IPL, the 36-year-old will be in Perth lining up for Tasmania in the Shield decider at the WACA Ground, starting on March 21.
It's also likely Wade will be unavailable for the Titans' second match on March 26, unless the Shield final wraps up early.
Wade, who is a fringe player in the IPL, has been given permission by the Titans to feature in the Shield final before flying to India.
But big-money WA stars Marsh (Delhi Capitals), Green (Royal Challengers Bangalore) and Marcus Stoinis (Lucknow Super Giants) will feature in the IPL from the outset.
The trio required a no objection certificate from Cricket Australia to skip the Shield final and fulfil their IPL commitments.
Other WA guns to feature in the IPL include Jhye Richardson (Delhi), Ashton Turner (Lucknow Super Giants) and Jason Behrendorff (Mumbai Indians).
Turner (knee) and Richardson (side strain) wouldn't have played in the Shield final anyway given the serious injuries they suffered this season, but both are expected to suit up in the IPL.
Richardson will have his workload managed given his injury history.
Lance Morris (side strain) is also injured and will miss the final, while Behrendorff has become a white-ball specialist following years of debilitating back injuries.
Morris is in the early stage of his return to bowling and is targeting a mid-year franchise opportunity to push his case for the T20 World Cup.
But it is the unavailability of Marsh, Green and Stoinis that is the biggest blow to WA's hopes of sealing a hat-trick of Shield crowns.
The only Tasmanian player unavailable for the Shield final due to IPL commitments is Nathan Ellis, who hasn't played a first-class match since February 2023 in any case.
Riley Meredith, who was surprisingly snubbed at the most recent IPL auction, is set to return for the Shield final after being rested for Tasmania's recent loss to South Australia.
There will be no fairytale call-up for Billy Stanlake, who starred on debut for Tasmania last month with 4-50 and 4-38, but is now nursing a season-ending back injury.
Aaron Hardie will feature in the Shield final for WA, but it remains to be seen whether he can bowl following his recent calf injury.
Hardie played as a batter only in WA's win over Victoria at the Junction Oval.
If Hardie is given the green light to bowl in the final, WA could call up an extra batter - likely to be either D'Arcy Short or 20-year-old BBL rising star Cooper Connolly.
If that situation arises either Liam Haskett or Charlie Stobo would be the unlucky player to miss out.
