SYDNEY, Nov 6 AAP - Dropped Test cricket paceman Brett Lee will be given a licence to "go out and scare people" when he plays for NSW in its Pura Cup match against Tasmania starting at the SCG on Friday.

A directive to harass batsmen has been issued by NSW coach Steve Rixon who says the key for Lee is to find his rhythm.

"What we don't need is for him to come back bowling medium pace - he's got to bowl fast," Rixon said.

"Once he bowls fast and bowls it regularly, he may go for a few more runs, but he may also get you three wickets in an over - he's that sort of bowler.

"He's a guy who needs to bowl fast which will eventually get his rhythm right and he's a lethal weapon once that happens."

Rixon applauded the decision of the national selectors to release Lee back to interstate cricket, saying it was in the best interest of the player, his state and his country.

Lee's availability posed an awkward selection decision, ensuring one of the in-form NSW pace trio of Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken and Don Nash would have to be dropped.

With Lee and Mark Waugh dropping back to interstate cricket, Rixon and long serving NSW and Test batsman Michael Slater said this week's Blues lineup was among the strongest they could remember, especially in a Test match week.

With Nash and opening batsman Corey Richards the players in the 13-man squad likely to miss out, NSW will field six former Test representatives and another two who have worn Australian one day colours.

While talking to yourself is sometimes regarded as a sign of madness, Slater has revealed some "self talk" has been behind his recent resurgence.

Overlooked by the NSW selectors for the Blues' first one and four day fixtures of the season, Slater scored 177 on his recall in Adelaide last week and also hit two centuries and a 47 in three Sydney first grade innings.

"Concentration has been the reason I think I've got these runs of late," Slater said.

"I've gone back to a few little things I had as a youngster or when I first moved to Sydney.

"A bit of self talk as the bowler is running in.

"I hadn't done it for a number of years. I've been thinking the last six months of what I was doing when I first moved to Sydney and tried to recapture a lot of that energy.

"It's like a mantra thing, it just clears my mind."

While NSW captain Simon Katich had still not finalised his batting order, it was understood Slater would move back to the opening spot in place of Richards with Waugh batting at No.6.

© 2002 AAP

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.