Victoria walk taller when James Pattinson is on the field and the fiery fast bowler will return for an intriguing Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland.
The top-of-the-table Vics will be boosted for the match at the Junction Oval, starting on Friday, by the former Australian quick's presence.
Pattinson's unexpected retirement from international cricket last year has been Victoria's gain.
"The energy, the aggression that he brings, he almost gives you another player out there, it's like there's 12 of you out there," Victoria captain Peter Handscomb said.
"He just lifts you, says some stupid shit out there, which makes you laugh, and keeps the mood nice and light.
"He will always be a Test cricketer in my eyes, he's just incredible.
"He's so good to have on your team and the way he helps the younger bowlers as well is so good."
Age has not calmed Pattinson down, as he treads a fine line between controlled aggression and going over the top.
He copped a suspension in November for a code-of-conduct breach, after throwing the ball back in anger at NSW batsman Daniel Hughes.
"Finding that fine line is tough but that's not really on me," Handscomb said.
"I trust Patto to know what he's doing and to toe the line.
"He's toed the line for all of his career and done such a good job at it."
If a fired-up Pattinson is not enough for Bulls batters to contend with, Australia's breakout star of the Ashes, Scott Boland, will line-up for Victoria one last time before the Test tour of Pakistan.
Boland has had the summer of his life, starring in the early rounds of the Sheffield Shield before his extraordinary debut in the Boxing Day Test.
But Queensland will be no easybeats boasting batters like Usman Khawaja, Matt Renshaw, as well as paceman Mark Steketee, who was this week called up to the Australian Test squad to replace injured Bulls teammate Michael Neser.
In Friday's other Shield game, NSW will host Tasmania at the SCG as the Blues attempt to build momentum after securing their first win of the season.
NSW came out on top against Queensland last week in a low-scoring thriller.
It will be Tasmania's first Shield game since November when the Tigers pulled off a stunning four-wicket win against Western Australia.
