Bulls rely on Hopes and Laughlin

Queensland, the competition leaders, have received a boost after their three-day defeat to Victoria with the internationals James Hopes and Ben Laughlin fit to return in Wednesday's FR Cup encounter at the MCG. Hopes felt he was ready to come back last week from a hamstring problem he picked up in India, but was delayed by Cricket Australia's medical staff who wanted him to wait.

Laughlin, who toured South Africa and the UAE earlier in the year, has recovered from a stomach strain sustained in Perth last month and will come in for Alister McDermott. Nick Kruger will appear in his first one-day game for six years as the replacement for Ryan Broad, who is out for up to four weeks due to a broken thumb. Andrew Symonds has been cut from the side after his one-off appearance in Alice Springs and will be in Papua New Guinea for a Twenty20 tournament instead.

The Bulls have a four-point lead over Victoria but have played two fewer games. The Bushrangers are undefeated in their three matches and are also in form after disposing of Queensland in the Sheffield Shield on Sunday.

Queensland squad Chris Hartley (wk), Nick Kruger, Lee Carseldine, Wade Townsend, James Hopes, Craig Philipson, Nathan Reardon, Chris Simpson (capt), Ben Laughlin, Nathan Rimmington, Scott Walter, Ben Cutting.