Henriques looking for revenge on Victoria

New South Wales allrounder Moises Henriques knows the Blues will need to be at their best if they are to defeat Victoria in the top-of-the-table JLT Sheffield Shield clash in Sydney this week.

The in-form Blues host the league leaders in the penultimate round of the season at Drummoyne Oval from Tuesday, knowing a victory will bring them into contention to host the Shield final later this month.

The Blues have won their past two matches, with an impressive 174-run triumph over Queensland at the Gabba last week helping them catapult into contention for a first Shield title in five seasons.

But standing in their way is their traditional rivals, who themselves have won four times this season to sit on top of the Shield ladder by almost six points.

When the two sides met in October earlier this season it was the Vics that eased to an innings and 107-run triumph and Henriques is looking for revenge this time around.

"They gave us a good touch up when we went to their place, so we would love to repay the favour here at Drummoyne Oval," Henriques said on Sunday.

"That would be nice but we know we are going to have to play some really good cricket for that to happen."

Victoria dominated the majority of their most recent Shield contest, but some gritty batting from Tasmanian veterans Alex Doolan, Jordan Silk and Ben McDermott on the final day left their bowlers searching for answers and forced to settle for a draw.

But Victoria have a bevy of bowling options at their disposals and could easily recall two paceman with Test experience for the crucial four-day clash.

Peter Siddle was rested from the match against Tasmania and will be raring to play, while injury-plagued quick James Pattinson is also a chance to return from a back complaint to take on New South Wales.

"Both teams are playing good cricket," Henriques noted.

"They have got a very potent bowling attack that have been able to take wicket on many different surfaces around the country so we are going to have to be up to the task.

"They bossed their last game, even though they didn’t get the result in the end.

"They led that game right from the start and it ended in a draw."

Just how Henriques performs against Victoria will be crucial to the outcome of the game, with the veteran allrounder currently in a rich vein of form.

The 32-year-old is the ninth leading run scorer this season with 536 runs, while his 3-7 with the ball against Queensland last game were the best bowling figures he has returned in Shield cricket in eight years.

"I am feeling good," Henriques said.

"I have felt good the whole season, it is good just to get some results."

New South Wales have named an unchanged 12-man squad for the match, while Victoria will name their squad on Monday.

NSW: Peter Nevill (c), Sean Abbott, Harry Conway, Trent Copeland, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Nick Larkin, Steve O'Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Jason Sangha, Greg West

Victoria: TBC