A selective memory has served Joe Burns well during a season that could finally finish with the Queensland opener on top.
In the nation's sights as an out-of-form Test batsman dropped in December, the Bulls run machine resumed normal service to ensure Queensland will contest another Sheffield Shield final at Brisbane's Allan Border Field from Thursday.
Burns immediately made an impact for the Brisbane Heat in the BBL before making 171 of the Bulls' 275 in a Shield clash with Tasmania in February.
"I try not to look back on it too far," he said of his whirlwind summer set to finish with an autumn Shield final.
"It's part and parcel of the game - the ups and downs in your career - but you try and keep a sunny disposition.
"To get to the end of the season with the chance to play in a final; it's been very long, but very satisfying to be standing here with the opportunity to still have a very memorable season."
The Bulls will face a NSW attack led by Test trio Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon - a challenge Burns knows well and won't back down from.
"It's my job to try and nullify their attack but they'll ask a lot of questions," he said.
"You have good days and bad days against each other and it always builds up to these big games and I guess you fall back on the good experiences and ignore the tough days you have."
Burns, former Test No.3 and captain Usman Khawaja, current Test No.3 Marnus Labuschagne and former Test opener Matthew Renshaw - now batting at No.5 - present a significant obstacle to a formidable Blues attack still missing Pat Cummins (IPL).
Burns said that experience should give them an edge against a raw NSW top order missing David Warner, Steve Smith and Moises Henriques, who are with Cummins in India.
And he said he'd look to take on Lyon if given the chance.
"We always try and be very attacking against Gaz and put him under pressure," Burns said.
"It's a tough place to bowl spin out here; small field and generally not a great wicket for spin bowlers.
"We'll be aggressive, but it's five days so you can bat for a long time and fill your boots and in the back of mind the last thing you want to do is get through Starc, Hazlewood, (Sean) Abbott, (Trent) Copeland and then get out to a spinner."
Australian Associated Press
