Australia quick Josh Hazlewood will make his eagerly awaited return to state cricket when he turns out for New South Wales in Thursday's JLT Cup qualifying final against Victoria.

Hazlewood hasn’t played elite-level cricket since Australia’s Test match against South Africa in April and has been carefully managed in recent months as he fully recovers from a stress fracture in his back.

The 27-year-old made a successful venture back into cricket in Australia when he turned out for St George against David Warner and Randwick-Petersham in Sydney Premier Cricket last month and will make his NSW return in the cut-throat JLT Cup match at Drummoyne Oval on Thursday.

"It's probably been the longest period of the last five or six years where I haven't played a game," Hazlewood said on Wednesday.

"You can bowl in the nets all you like but I think getting back out in the middle...there's a few things you can't replicate in training.

"It's just about getting that rust out and hopefully bowling well (and) contribute to a few wins."

Hazlewood's return comes at a perfect time for the Blues, who played their best cricket of the one-day competition during their most recent hitout against Queensland.

New South Wales successfully chased down Queensland's score of 296 for the loss of just four wickets on Monday and will be looking to replicate that performance when they take on a Victoria side who have lost their last two matches.

Looking to regain their best form, Victoria have recalled forgotten batsman Travis Dean and fast bowler Andrew Fekete for the clash against the Blues in Sydney.

Dean was Victoria's highest run-scorer at last year's JLT Cup tournament, but hasn't featured so far in 2018 as the likes of Nic Maddinson, Seb Gotch and Mackenzie Harvey have been preferred.

Versatile Victoria quick Jackson Coleman believes Dean and Fekete can make an impact if selected and believes his side are more than capable of quelling the danger posed by a New South Wales’ pace attack featuring Australia duo Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

"They are two of Australia's best fast bowlers, but we are trying not to worry too much about them," Coleman said

"We know what they can do and how dangerous they can be.

"But we think if we stick to our processes and bat how we want to bat, then we will post a decent total which will help us get over the line."