The XXXX Queensland Bulls will go into tomorrow's crunch Pura Cup clash with the Victorian Bushrangers at the Gabba under the guidance of new captain Martin Love.

Love was today appointed to take over from regular captain Stuart Law for the match, after Law was ruled out with a hand injury at practice this morning.

Law, who had made his comeback from a broken knuckle in the Bulls' first innings win over NSW earlier this month, suffered a heavy blow on the same hand while fielding for Wynnum-Manly in the Brisbane XXXX First grade semi-final against Sandgate-Redcliffe on Sunday.

He attempted to bat today but was ruled out during the session, with Clinton Perren returned to the Bulls line-up in his place.

Love was confirmed as captain by the Queensland Cricket Board and will take on the role for the first time, becoming Queensland's 47th first class cricket captain in the process.

"Obviously it will be a great honour to captain Queensland but I won't be doing anything radically different in terms of the team," he said.

"We've always had a good core of experience in the side and I'll be relying on those players to make sure we approach this game in the right frame of mind."

Love, who captained the Prime Minister's XI last week against the ATSIC Chairman's XI, will shoulder the additional burden of leading the Bulls' rookie batting line-up in the absence of the Pura Cup's leading scorer Jimmy Maher.

Love, who is averaging 70.38 in domestic four-day cricket this season, has scored 996 first class runs this season and 915 Pura Cup runs and will have his sights on passing 1000 runs for the first time in Australia since 1994-95.

He scored 910 first class runs last season, earning an ACB contract in the process, and then followed it with more than 1000 runs for Durham in English county cricket.

Queensland need a minimum of first innings points to ensure they host the Final, with Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia all vying for a berth in the decider.

XXXX Queensland Bulls v Victorian Bushrangers, Wed-Sat, The Gabba: Brendan Nash, Daniel Payne, Martin Love (c), Clinton Perren, Andrew Symonds, Lee Carseldine, Wade Seccombe, Ashley Noffke, Michael Kasprowicz, Joe Dawes, Scott Brant, Matthew Anderson (12th man to be named).

Victorian Bushrangers: Matthew Elliott (c), Matthew Mott, Brad Hodge, Jon Moss, Nick Jewell, Cameron White, Darren Berry, Andrew MacDonald, Mathew Inness, Will Carr, Mick Lewis, Bryce McGain (12th man to be named).

© 2002 Queensland Cricket