Shaun Marsh survives nervy test in Perth

Queenslanders Matthew Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne failed to enhance their Test claims, but Shaun Marsh survived a nervous 18 minutes to give himself a chance of ending his run drought.

Renshaw and Labuschagne were both dismissed for three against South Australia on Thursday in the Sheffield Shield clash at Adelaide Oval.

But Marsh will be at the crease on Friday morning after making it through to stumps in Western Australia's clash with Tasmania at the WACA Ground.

Marsh entered the fray with just 18 minutes remaining in the day, and finished on 10 not out off 14 balls.

Since scoring 156 against England in January at the SCG, Marsh has averaged just 13.42 across 12 innings in the Test arena, and he needs a big score for WA to shore up his Test spot.

The 35-year-old looked comfortable against the Tigers' attack, helping WA finish the day at 2-69 in reply to Tasmania's 226.

SA batsman Callum Ferguson's hopes of pushing for a Test recall were dashed by a calf strain.

Ferguson, desperate to add to his one Test in November 2016, is sidelined for this game and in doubt for the round of Shield games starting next week.

The 33-year-old joins emerging Victorian batsman Will Pucovski in missing the current round of Shield games.

Pucovski has been rested from the Vics' clash with NSW, suffering lethargy after his superb innings of 243 in last week's Shield opening round.

Forgotten batsman Alex Doolan did his best to remind Test selectors that he still had plenty to give with a fighting 76 amid a top-order Tasmanian batting collapse.

With incumbent Test opener Usman Khawaja battling a knee injury, Queenslander Renshaw blew his initial chance to push his case for a Test recall for the series against India.

Renshaw was widely expected to return to Test ranks in the recent series against Pakistan, but suffered concussion when struck in the head while fielding in a warm-up game.

The lefthander was bowled by SA quick Joe Mennie for three on Thursday, missing an attempted drive to a fullish ball which hit off stump.

His dismissal brought Labuschagne, who played his first two Tests against Pakistan, to the crease.

But the right-hander lasted just nine balls before nicking a Mennie delivery to first slip.

Bulls veteran Joe Burns fared better, scoring 64 amid the early carnage to ensure he kept his name in the Test selection spotlight.

NSW allrounder Moises Henriques, also trying to force his way back into the Test team, was out for five in the Blues' Shield game against Victoria in Melbourne.