Bushrangers wait on Pattinson

Stung by their first loss in the Ford Ranger Cup this season, the Bushrangers head west on Thursday hopeful that paceman Darren Pattinson will be fit to line up against Western Australia in Bunbury.

Pattinson became the latest in a long list of Victorian quicks sidelined by illness and injury when he withdrew at the last moment from Wednesday's one-day clash with Queensland - which the Bulls won by 20 runs - because of gastro.

"Darren, we think, will be fine to travel with us," said Bushrangers coach Greg Shipperd. "He just suffered a 24-hour virus, we suspect."

"He was up vomiting and quite ill during all of Tuesday night and during the morning on Wednesday."

"We gave him every chance to play and he warmed up and felt terrible."

While Pattinson is set to make a quick recovery, the prognosis is not as promising for Dirk Nannes (hamstring tendon) who is three weeks away from returning to the crease, and Shane Harwood who is out for the season following shoulder surgery.

In better news, Steve Gilmour (knee) is bowling again and Damien Wright (calf, hamstring) is likely to play Premier Cricket at the weekend.

Shipperd said the Bushrangers learned some hard lessons from the loss to the Bulls and they'll be determined not to repeat them in Saturday's clash with the Warriors.

"The first 35 overs were terrific - the team was on, the bowling group was on, but our finish with the ball, our last 12, 13 overs was disastrous," he said.

"In the context of the game, I think we should have shut them down for 220 ... and to have some soft dismissals right through a significant number of our top six was a disappointing result."

With a 3-1 record, Victoria is holding down second place on the Ford Ranger Cup table on 13 points from the third-placed Warriors, who have won two from five including last week's thumping victory over New South Wales at the WACA Ground.

The Marsh brothers, Shaun (116) and Mitchell (60 not out), were the stars on that occasion for WA and their tussle with the Pattinsons - James and Darren - assuming that Darren's fit to play in Bunbury, will be a fascinating sidelight.

The Vics haven't fielded brothers in the same line-up since the Quinns, Michael and Paul, contested a McDonald's Cup match in the late-80s.

Making his domestic one-day debut for the Vics, James Pattinson was his team's only multiple wicket-taker against Queensland and the coach was generally pleased.

"He showed that he can shape the ball and, as he gets stronger and with more body experience, he's going t bowl faster," said Shipperd.

"There was a lack of experience when under some pressure at the end, but that's a great lesson for him to learn and hopefully in the future he keeps his front foot behind the line."

Despite his Sandgroper heritage, Shipperd admits to not knowing much about Saturday's venue, Hands Oval.

"I might have played one game back there in 1982, I can't remember that far back," he said.

"We'll have to have a good pitch inspection and we've got a pretty versatile squad so I think we've got all bases covered there."