The opening match of the 29th season of domestic limited-overs competition in Australia as the New South Wales Blues face the Redbacks of South Australia at North Sydney Oval. In recent years the annual North Sydney fixture has regularly been the best attended domestic game in Australia. Some radical changes to playing conditions designed to brighten the game have nevertheless aroused controversy, especially the restriction to three fielders in the outfield from overs 16 to 30. Both captains Mark Taylor and Jamie Siddons have described setting strategies for this match as "pot luck" and a "captain's nightmare".
NSW go into this match with ten internationals among their twelve players, including the return from injury of Simon Cook and last year's Australian hat-trick hero Anthony Stuart. South Australia are missing fast bowlers Jason Gillespie and Mark Harrity due to injury.
New South Captain Mark Taylor won the toss and chose to bat.