Test stars from Western Australia won't play again before the tour of Pakistan as officials attempt to create parity despite an uneven Sheffield Shield schedule.
Cricket Australia confirmed the fixtures for the rest of the domestic season on Friday, with some teams to play just seven Shield matches while one will contest nine -- after COVID-19 caused chaos with the summer's schedule.
Under the revised Shield format, the ladder positions will be determined by average points scored per game, with the top two still to progress to a final from March 31.
The four-day competition will resume on Thursday, with Queensland to host NSW and Victoria to visit South Australia.
Tasmania will return to the field against NSW on February 18, while WA will have wait until March 15 for their next match -- due to the state's hard border
Test players from other states will be free to play in the first round back, while there is also some possibility they could feature in the second before flying to Pakistan in the last week of the month.
It means the likes of Cameron Green and Mitch Marsh won't have more game time before the tour of Pakistan, with a squad to be announced next week.
"Following a fairly challenging BBL period, the medical advice we received recommended a short break post BBL, along with a break somewhere within the remaining fixtures," CA's head of operations Peter Roach said.
"Whilst Cricket Australia want to maximise the number of matches played in pivotal domestic competitions, the health and wellbeing of participants is a priority.
"For these reasons, the decision was made and supported unanimously by stakeholders to complete the domestic competitions under the revised playing conditions and schedule."
It means NSW, Victoria and WA will finish the season after playing seven games, with South Australia and Tasmania on eight and Queensland on nine.
All teams will play each other at least once, with NSW and Victoria's schedule made up of three games already completed against each other and one game against each other state.
The changes mean Victoria move up to first on the ladder ahead of WA, after winning two of their opening three games against NSW.
The 50-over competition will, meanwhile, have all teams play six games before the March 11 final, but with NSW and WA not meeting throughout the entire fixture.
WA have already played five games, with their only remaining match against Victoria.
CA are yet to sort the fixtures for the WNCL, with the competition to resume on February 22 but without Australia's World Cup players for its duration.
