Spent speedsters ready for one final surge

Exhausted pacemen Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have zero regrets about opting for rest ahead of Indian Premier League riches as they seek to end a marathon cricket season on a high.

Starc, Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon headline a star-studded NSW outfit that will face Queensland in the Marsh Sheffield Shield final, which begins on Thursday at Brisbane's Allan Border Field.

There has been limited respite for the trio since last August, when they departed Australia on a charter flight to England, and even since Australia's Test series against India ended almost three months ago.

Steve Smith, David Warner and Pat Cummins will spend coming weeks in India, where IPL organisers are on alert about the host nation's rising COVID-19 case numbers.

Hazlewood is among the Australians who withdrew from the T20 tournament, while Starc is one of the world's best white-ball bowlers but didn't enter the auction.

"I'm pretty happy with the decision. This season has just gone and gone and gone, and kept going," Hazlewood said.

"We've seen a few (COVID-19) scares over there.

"I'm looking forward to putting the feet up after this one. It's our first break in quite a while.

"They (Starc and Lyon) are pretty tired ... there's signs of weariness, but one game to go."

Starc admitted it felt unusual to be preparing for his first Shield final in mid-April, one month into the NRL and AFL seasons.

The left-armer, whose father passed away in February, is ready to deliver a final salvo before he refreshes physically and mentally.

"It's a Shield final, so no doubt everyone can get up for that," Starc said.

"It's been a grind, but it has been for everyone and it's a big carrot there.

"My decision was to not go (to the IPL), have some time at home with family and a break from cricket.

"We're switching off. I will be anyway. You'll find me at a golf course or pub ... time away from bowling and letting the body heal a bit will be key."

Starc and Hazlewood should have approximately four weeks off before preparing for Australia's white-ball tour of the Caribbean, which is slated for June-July.

The fast bowlers remain unsure whether they will receive the coronavirus vaccine before that trip.

"It'd probably be nice to have before we take off, but I don't think it's a necessity," Hazlewood said, citing the strength of biosecurity bubbles.

The pair backed their young teammates to step up in the absence of IPL guns, adding the bonus-point rule should help ensure the Shield final is not a dull draw.

2021 Marsh Sheffield Shield final

Queensland v NSW Blues at Allan Border Field in Brisbane, April 15-19. Play begins each morning at 9.30am AEST

Queensland squad: Usman Khawaja (c), Xavier Bartlett, Joe Burns, Brendan Doggett, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Bryce Street, Mitchell Swepson, Jack Wildermuth

NSW squad: Sean Abbott, Harry Conway, Trent Copeland, Jack Edwards, Matthew Gilkes, Josh Hazlewood, Lachlan Hearne, Baxter Holt, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Peter Nevill, Kurtis Patterson, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Mitchell Starc

The 2021 Marsh Sheffield Shield final will be broadcast LIVE in Australia on Fox Cricket & Kayo Sports. ABC Grandstand's live radio coverage will also be available on cricket.com.au & the CA Live app