Pattinson will not be in his usual role of spearheading the Dandenong attack in the twenty20 tri-series.

He will play as a specialist batsman against St Kilda and Greenvale Kangaroos.

Pattinson, 23, is on the comeback trail after sustaining a stress fracture in his back during the Ashes Series in England earlier this year. 

While his recovery is progressing more than satisfactorily, Pattinson is not yet ready to bowl under match conditions – not even in the shortest version of the game.

This will be the first of two visits to Ballarat for Pattinson within a week.

He will return with Dandenong teammate and Australian fast bowling partner Peter Siddle with the Melbourne Renegades for a three-day community camp on December 13, 14 and 15.

Pattinson resumed with Dandenong at the weekend as a batsman.

He made nine runs batting at number five in a two-day win over Frankston Peninsula.

Dandenong coach Ross Woodall said Pattinson’s long-term rehabilitation program had been carefully mapped out by Cricket Australia and hopefully he would be back in full swing and bowling by the end of the year.

Woodall said it was great to have Pattinson back at club level.

He said even having him just as a batsman, it was exciting to have him around.

Woodall is looking forward to the “bush bash” at the Eastern Oval in Ballarat.

This is the first time Ballarat has been the venue for the three-way twenty20 series.

Woodall said the format had worked well last season.

He said it worked best when teams played back-to-back matches.

Woodall said Dandenong did not have the ideal draw, playing in the first and third games, but he was sure his players would deal with the break and acquit themselves well.

He is hoping Dandenong can build some momentum and improve on a relatively slow start to the season.

Dandenong also features in-form skipper Tom Donnell, who has made three half-centuries for the Victoria second eleven this season, and former Queensland spin bowler Dan Doran.

Doran is vastly experienced, having played in two Sheffield Shield finals for the Bulls, including one winning performance.

Donnell made his best score of the Victoria Premier season with 69 at the weekend.

He averaged 47.3 last season.

Doran had a lean day against Frankston with 1-69 to give him seven victims for the season.

david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au

Saturday’s ‘bush bash’ draw:

9.30am: St Kilda v Dandenong

1pm: Greenvale Kangaroos v St Kilda 

4.30pm: Dandenong v Greenvale