Behrendorff rested for shield clash

Jason Behrendorff will be rested from the Sheffield Shield match against South Australia this week as the WACA medical team attempts to prevent his back soreness developing into a stress condition that could end his season.

The left-arm paceman was recognised as Australia's most valuable domestic player at last week's Allan Border Medal and he is a key to WA's bid to end their 16-year shield drought.

But he will not be considered for the game against the Redbacks at the WACA Ground, starting on Saturday, and may also miss the return clash at Glenelg later in the month.

"Dorff should be fine with rest," a WACA spokesman said.

"He does not have stress fractures, but he will miss the game to stop his soreness developing into something worse."

But fellow quick Nathan Coulter-Nile should be right to resume his first-class career after a hamstring injury kept him out of action for two months between last November and the Big Bash League finals.

The WA selectors have a wide range of pacemen to choose from given that veteran Michael Hogan has eased back into form in club cricket, Nathan Rimmington and Ryan Duffield have returned from stints at interstate BBL franchises and Andrew Tye, a revelation for Perth Scorchers, and Simon Mackin are pressing hard.

Second-placed WA will take on a SA team beset by turmoil.

The Warriors probably need to win three of their final five games to guarantee a place in the final.

Redbacks coach Darren Berry has taken indefinite leave, while captain Johan Botha is set to be replaced by 21-year-old Travis Head as early as today.

Botha, a South African, is playing as an overseas player and his bid to play as a local next season was stymied recently when Cricket Australia refused to provide him with an endorsement to gain a work visa.

It is understood that CA used Botha's suspension for ball- tampering and multiple reports for having a suspicious bowling action as reasons not to support his application.