Pattinson set to make derby comeback

Test quick James Pattinson looks a good chance make a return to action for Melbourne Renegades in Saturday night's derby against Melbourne Stars at Etihad Stadium.

Pattinson's planned earlier comeback in the KFC Big Bash was derailed by a mild hamstring strain, with the paceman having now not played top-level cricket since a Test against New Zealand last February, however Renegades coach was optimistic he would have his star charge available for the weekend.

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"James Pattinson had a hit-out yesterday, Peter Siddle as well,” McDonald said on Wednesday. "So we feel as though we might have a few more pieces of the puzzle for this game.

"We’ll assess (Pattinson) and see how he’s pulled up from yesterday, but we’re pretty confident he’ll be available for Saturday’s derby, which is a massive inclusion for us.”

McDonald said Siddle, who is also on the comeback trail from injury after suffering a flare-up in his back earlier in the summer, was a chance to also don the red shirt before the tournament is over.

"He's getting back into some work – he's probably a little bit further away than James with where he's at," he said.

"It'll be a week-by-week thing with 'Sidds' but we hope he may be able to take some part in the back-end of the tournament which will be a massive inclusion come that time if we are at the business end."

The Renegades were rocked last week by a tournament-ending hamstring injury to West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo, who has since undergone surgery.

Bravo's absence means they can draft in a replacement international player, and while the identity of that man is a closely-guarded secret, McDonald appeared confident that he would be making an appearance in the derby on Saturday.

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"We're working really hard at bringing a second overseas player in," he said. "We didn't have one the other night (against the Stars), but we felt as though we structured up pretty well with Trent Lawford (who is), not a like-for-like replacement obviously, but a similar skill-set to Dwayne.

"We're busy working away at finding a replacement player for Saturday so hopefully they'll be here and available.

"There's a good chance (the replacement will be ready for Saturday)."