Burns set to give Bulls a Shield boost

Queensland's push for the JLT Sheffield Shield title looks set to receive a boost with opener Joe Burns to return from injury next week.

Burns, who played the last of his 13 Tests in 2016, suffered a serious groin injury during the KFC BBL that ruled him out of contention for Australia's Test tour of South Africa.

There were fears that the injury could have also ended his season, but the right-hander has been named to make his comeback in the Toyota Future's League next week, providing an ideal fitness test ahead of possible return for Queensland's last regular season Shield game on March 14-17.

Burns was Queensland's leading Shield run-scorer in the first half of his season and posted scores of 81, 103, 202* and 4 in his final two games before the BBL break.

He was reportedly in contention for a Test recall before he was injured at a Brisbane Heat training session in January. Upon naming the Test squad, head selector Trevor Hohns said Burns would have been considered for the four-match series against the Proteas had he not been injured.

"Hypothetically he certainly would have been considered," Hohns said at the time. 

"Whether he would have made the squad remains to be seen of course. Unfortunately he's suffered an injury that possibly has him out for the rest of the season."

The Bulls started round eight of the Shield competition in first position and, having dominated the opening two days of their clash against South Australia, look to extend their advantage at the top of the table and put themselves in prime position for a spot in the Shield final.

If Burns is cleared to make his Shield return, he would reunite with fellow former Test opener Matthew Renshaw, who has returned to form in recent weeks with a hundred in each of his past two Shield games.

The Bulls won the last of their seven Shield titles in 2011-12.