While Tendulkar will represent his home association for the first time since the final against UP at Hyderabad in 2009, Zaheer had played a few away games last season to test his match fitness ahead of getting back into the international arena after an injury lay-off.
However, both are going through a lean patch, which can make a huge impact on India's chances against the touring English team, who had beaten Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men 4-0 in August, last year.
The duo will look to boost Mumbai, who are already at full strength and starting as clear favourites against Railways, who have old war horse Sanjay Bangar, captain, and Murali Kartik, to bank upon for holding up the challenge against the might of the home side.
Mumbai coach Sulakshan Kulkarni was upbeat about the team's chances with the presence of Tendulkar and Zaheer.
"The preparation has been excellent. We have had a good three days session from Monday to Wednesday; so today we said we will have one light session.
"It is a good sign for Mumbai cricket (about them) turning out for Ranji. Sachin is probably playing after about three years. It is good sign for the team and hope that definitely the boys will learn a lot of things," he said.
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The former Mumbai stumper said Tendulkar was practicing hard since Mumbai Indians had returned after the end of their campaign in CLT20 in South Africa.
"He comes around 8:00 am. He does his own fitness training and then joins the team. The way he is playing in the nets, he is very serious. He was batting everyday for 45 minutes to 1 hour non stop and he is shaping well. His feet movement was very good," said Kulkarni. MORE