BRETT Lee is set to resume his unwanted role as Australia's Test 12th man but there is little chance of him being released to play for New South Wales in the Pura Cup final.
Lee's Blues team-mates would dearly love to have him back to take on Queensland at the Gabba from Friday, but NSW officials conceded they were unlikely to seek permission for Lee because Cricket Australia has said the issue will not be reviewed until the end of the season.
"We've not made any request at this stage," NSW spokesman Daniel McDougall said today.
"We've been down that road before and Cricket Australia have said they will review the 12th man issue at the end of the season."
Lee is likely to keep his role as drinks waiter for the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington on Friday.
Cricket Australia's chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said: "It doesn't make too much sense at this stage (to send Lee home) but we'll see what progresses.
"There'd have to be a request, No.1, and it'd have to be okayed by the coach, and it's very unlikely that'd be the case."
Australian captain Ricky Ponting described Lee as "fairly irresistible" after series figures of 10-169 in the 5-0 one-day whitewash of New Zealand, but he again carried the drinks in the crushing nine-wicket first Test win in Christchurch.
NSW meanwhile named a 13-man cup final squad, opting to change a winning team after dropping off-spinner Jason Krejza and adding batsman Ed Cowan and paceman Doug Bollinger.
Krejza was barely needed as a fifth bowler in last week's five-wicket win over Victoria at the SCG, where the 22-year-old took match figures of 1-34 from 8.2 overs.
Grant Lambert, 12th man against Victoria, has also been included but NSW don't have plans to ask for Lee's release.
NSW batsman Phil Jaques, who helped the Blues book their final slot with a second innings knock of 78 against Victoria, believes Lee would be better off helping NSW on an unpredictable wicket at the Gabba after 14 months without playing a Test.
"It's frustrating knowing that he's unavailable and we just hope he does get a game (with Australia) at some point," Jacques said.
"We'd all love to have him here but that's not to be and we just have to do all we can to get a win for NSW without him.
Jaques is the leading NSW Pura Cup batsman this season, with 1152 runs.
Cricket Australia released Mike Hussey for Western Australia's final Pura Cup match with Queensland.
"It's Cricket Australia's prerogative I suppose and Brett is in the 12 while Mike is in the 13 or 14," Jacques said.
"They need to cover themselves and while we'd really like to have him back, that's just the way it is."
However, Jaques said he had great confidence in the ability of in-form pacemen Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark and Matthew Nicholson alongside leg-spinner Stuart MacGill to bowl out Queensland twice.
- DESMOND KANE