Former Test opener Michael Slater today vowed to return to the highest level of cricket after his recall to captain New South Wales.

Seven weeks after being dumped from the side, Slater will lead the Blues for the first time in their final Pura Cup match of the season against Tasmania in Hobart starting on Wednesday.

Slater said he had benefitted from the on and off field dramas that had plagued him this season.

"I'm a much stronger person for everything I've gone through," Slater said.

"It's a case of getting back to the basics. I've known all along that I'm a good person.

"I've played cricket with passion and a sheer love of the game and going through these tough periods, I've realised that I'm certainly not finished with playing cricket at the top level.

"I'm going to do everything I possibly can to get back there and get back there smartly so I can fulfil the remainder of my goals in this game."

Slater was brought back to lead the NSW side in the absence of regular captain Shane Lee who was ruled out with a knee injury.

The other obvious captaincy candidate, Michael Bevan, was unavailable as he's preparing to join the Australian one-day side in South Africa.

The other changes to the Blues from the team which drew with Queensland at the SCG last week saw batsmen Phil Jaques and Vaughan Williams come in and batting allrounder Mark Higgs dropped.

The Blues are in last place in the Pura Cup competition.

© 2002 AAP