The trio is on Cricket ACT's target wish-list to compete in the annual event, scheduled for January 29 against New Zealand.

Chief executive Mark Vergano yesterday confirmed he would liaise with Cricket Australia officials and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's office to gauge the interest of at least one and possibly all three of the players competing in the annual event.

''It's not unprecedented to assume Cricket Australia would be looking at one or more of those players to be in the team for recognition of their services,'' Vergano told The Sunday Canberra Times.

''Natural selection discussions will take place between CA and the PM's office and while we don't have a direct role in the team selection, we've always worked closely with CA when it comes to this match each year.

''It would be fantastic to have them playing in the match, a real highlight not only for us here at Cricket ACT but for all sporting fans in Canberra.''

The Prime Minister's XI team is traditionally finalised following meetings between CA chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch and the Prime Minister's staffers.

The team is generally captained by a current or former Australian player, with the rest of the squad largely consisting of up-and-comers on the brink of breaking into the national team, as well as one of Canberra's top players.

But Vergano hoped there could be room in the 2009 team for Warne, McGrath and Gilchrist, each of whom has retired from first-class cricket in the past two years.

''To potentially have the three of them together would provide a fantastic boost in the popularity of the match not only in Canberra but in Australia and around the world because the reach of these guys is amazing,'' he said.

''For Canberra we've probably never had, from Cricket Australia's perspective, three players of such calibre on the field together since [Jeff] Thompson, the Chappells and Kim Hughes back in the days of the early PM's matches.''

While the three players are retired from first-class cricket, they have all made comebacks at some stage.

The most recent was Gilchrist, who represented an All Stars side against Australia in a Twenty20 contest at the Gabba on Friday night, where he scored 25 runs off 20 balls.

Gilchrist and Warne both played in Prime Minister's XI teams during their careers. McGrath did not.

Gilchrist captained the side against the West Indies in 2000.

He also played in 1992 and 1996.

Warne played in December 1991, a month before making his Test debut.

Some of Australia's greatest cricketers have captained the Prime Minister's XI team including Steve and Mark Waugh, Allan Border and Justin Langer. Cameron White led the team last summer in what was Cricket ACT's busiest season.

Manuka Oval hosted three international games the PM's XI versus Sri Lanka, a three-day match between an ACT Invitational XI and India and a one-day international between India and Sri Lanka.

Vergano hoped the success of 12 months ago would aid Cricket ACT's prospects of securing at least one of Warne, McGrath and Gilchrist.

''Manuka has a great reputation and the PM's match itself has great credence and I'm sure Cricket Australia see the game as part of their strategy in both developing cricketers but also the image of the game,'' he said.

''We always hope that whatever we do, we do well, and I was very pleased with how last summer went from our hosting point of view.

''The inclusion of Glenn and or Shane and or Adam for next year would give us a big head start in making sure this summer is just as successful.''

January's game will be the second under Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

The team lost to Sri Lanka in Rudd's first game earlier this year. The PM's XI team is expected to be announced in mid January.