Methods of protecting a surface of a Ni-based alloy component are provided, along with the wear strip utilized and the repaired Ni-based alloy component. The method may include: spraying a plurality of particles to form a wear strip. The plurality of particles includes a mixture of Ni-based superalloy particles and Co-based superalloy particles. The plurality of particles is sprayed at a spray temperature that is less than a melting point of the Ni-based superalloy particles and less than a melting point of the Co-based superalloy particles. The wear strip may be attached onto a surface of the Ni-based alloy component, either during the spraying of the particles (when wear strip formed on the surface of the Ni-based alloy component) or after a standalone wear strip is formed.