Blues bag early favourites tag

The NSW Blues certainly aren't short on star power heading into the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup. Their 14-man squad features 12 players with international experience, including three who featured in Australia's World Cup-winning line-up earlier this year.

The Blues are currently experiencing the longest title drought of any state in one-day cricket, but with a new coach at the helm in Trent Johnston and a side packed with stars, they will be out to open the floodgates in Sydney.

Here's a full team preview of the Blues to get you up to speed before the event gets underway tomorrow.

The squad

NSW will be led by the best Test batsman in the world as Steve Smith returns to the Blues line-up after missing last year's tournament. The national skipper will likely be joined by Nic Maddinson, Ed Cowan and Shane Watson towards the top of the batting order, although the former Test allrounder is expected to sit out for Monday's opening match.

World Cup hero Mitchell Starc will spearhead the bowling attack, while Gurinder Sandhu and Doug Bollinger will ensure there isn't much relief for opposing batsmen. Nathan Lyon and Stephen O'Keefe will vie for the spinning role after the postponement of the Qantas Tour of Bangladesh, and may even play side by side in some matches according to Smith.

Moises Henriques, Sean Abbott and Watson provide the Blues with strong all-round options and Test 'keeper Peter Nevill will take his place behind the stumps for the Sydney-based tournament.

An ace up Smith's sleeve could be the possible return of paceman Josh Hazlewood towards the end of the tournament. Hazlewood is currently building up his bowling workloads after a big 12 months of cricket started to take its toll during Australia's failed Ashes campaign in the winter.

Whisper it quietly, but there is also the distinct possibility NSW could welcome back Australia opener David Warner in the back end of the tournament as he seeks a return to cricket from a thumb injury.

Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Doug Bollinger, Ryan Carters, Ed Cowan, Moises Henriques, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Stephen O'Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Gurinder Sandhu, Mitchell Starc, Shane Watson.

Coach: Trent Johnston

The fixture

The Blues will look to open their account in a historic clash against the new Cricket Australia XI at Bankstown Oval tomorrow. Smith's side will take on the Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers in their final round match in a blockbuster clash that could significantly shape the finals match-ups.

Four of the matches – against the West End Redbacks, Alcohol.Think Again Western Warriors, myFootDr Queensland Bulls and Victoria – will be broadcast live in HD on GEM, as well as being streamed on cricket.com.au and the Cricket Australia Live app for fans with a Live Pass subscription.

What's new?

An already experienced squad has been further boosted by the return of Cowan to his home state following six seasons with the Tasmanian Tigers. The former Test batsman last featured in Blues colours in December 2008 and will provide a steadying presence at the top of the order.

Former Ireland skipper Trent Johnston was appointed to the head coaching role following Trevor Bayliss' successful transition into the top job in England cricket. Johnston served as an assistant to Bayliss and will now take charge of a squad that will have high hopes over the next three weeks.

What to expect

With one of the world's best batsmen and the world's best limited-overs quick – plus the destructive Watson – the Blues enter the one-day event as the team to beat.

Quick Single: Focussed Maddinson on a mission

Maddinson looks set for a big summer and will be aiming to show why he's been highly-regarded by many for so long.

Quotable

"Anyone can win with this block (format) in October, so it's about being on our game and you can really gain some momentum with back-to-back games," Maddinson chatting with cricket.com.au ahead of the season.

Player to watch

Henriques continues his comeback from a sickening collision that ended his county season with Surrey. Seemingly behind a number of other talented allrounders in the national pecking order, the 28-year-old will be looking to build on the solid all-round form he was enjoying before the serious injury occurred.

Last season

NSW fell at the final hurdle for the second year in a row, in 2014 against a determined Warriors outfit.

Five batsmen scored more than 200 runs in last year's tournament, but it was wicketkeeper-batsman Nevill out in front with 267 runs at an average of 33.37. Sandhu did the damage with the ball, taking a team-high 15 wickets at 25.73.

An injury to skipper Henriques certainly didn't help their title pursuit, while Watson impressed in his albeit brief tournament appearance.

Predicted finish

First. With such a strong squad and the potential return of Hazlewood on the cards, NSW will be hoping to make it third-time lucky in this year's final and end their 10-year one-day title drought.