The North Dalton Park showdown marks Katich's return to the Blues after averaging 57.00 in five Tests against the West Indies and Pakistan while wearing the baggy green.

Katich (pictured) dominated international attacks at the top of the Australian order but is expected to drop down the list to allow dynamic duo Phillip Hughes and Dave Warner to take the attack to the Redbacks.

The 48-Test veteran, who scored one century and reached the 90s three times in 2009-10, is hell-bent on continuing his good form in Wollongong's first interstate match.

"My motivation is the same as usual, whenever there's contest I love it. There's no issue for me whenever I come back to play for NSW. Being captain I want to set an example and I always love coming back," Katich said.

"It's going to be good to come back for these next couple of months and there's a couple of finals up for grabs."

Katich warned his side to be on red alert after South Australia lost the Big Bash final to Victoria last Saturday night.

"They'll be disappointed with what happened the other night but it's gone now for them. They'll move on from it and learn from it," Katich said.

NSW cricket captain Simon Katich is optimistic of the Wollongong weather curse being lifted today.

In December 2007, Katich travelled to the Illawarra as part of the Blues team to take on South Australia at North Dalton Park, only to see three days of constant rain make the match a washout.

And while there has been a significant improvement in conditions from above this year, the prospect of a thunderstorm still lingers this afternoon.

"I remember two years ago when we were down here and the weather was pretty wild leading into the game, half the ground was under water but seeing it now, it looks fantastic," he said.

"Hopefully there's a good crowd because when that happens it spurs the guys on to play some good cricket,"

"There's no doubt wherever we take games we want it to be supported, that's something important for the game to generate new fans and let the young kids see some of their heroes live in action and entice them to play cricket."

A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman yesterday said there was a "10 to 20 per cent chance" of a thunderstorm late this afternoon.

The forecast calls for "isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms, light-to-moderate east to north-easterly winds and fresh about the coast in the afternoon".