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Burns plays down Renshaw rivalry

Test hopefuls prepare for final audition in tour match against Sri Lanka in Hobart

Joe Burns has played down any rivalry with state teammate Matthew Renshaw as the pair brace for a pivotal batting audition ahead of next week's first Domain Test against Sri Lanka.

Burns and Renshaw will open the batting for a strong CA XI side against the tourists in a three-day match in Hobart starting on Thursday, a week before the first Test gets underway in Brisbane.

The pair are among four Test batsmen selected for the pink-ball game at Blundstone Arena, with Marnus Labuschagne – who batted at No.3 in the Sydney Test earlier this month – and uncapped youngster Will Pucovski to bat in the middle order.

With Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja and Travis Head seemingly secure in the top six for the first Test, the quartet of batsmen in Hobart will be fighting for the three remaining batting spots in the XI.

Teammates at Queensland, Burns and Renshaw are no strangers to battling each other for Test spots, with the younger man's Test debut in 2016 coming at the expense of his more experienced teammate.

But Burns says the pair remain tight and have enjoyed each other's successes at the highest level.

"I've never seen myself as competing with Renners," he said. "It's just a matter of how we get the job done for Queensland.

"You're just happy to see your teammates going well. Hopefully we can both get the opportunity, but I'm not sure about the final make-up of the team, obviously.

''I'm not sure about a bat off. The make-up of the team suggests that would be the case. But for me it's just a chance to play a long-form game and get stuck in against the pink ball."

Harris said this week he expects one of Renshaw or Burns to open alongside him at the Gabba, which would mean Khawaja would slip down the order having opened at the SCG.

Even if Renshaw does get the nod to open, Burns could play in the middle order having filled that role early in his first-class career and having made his Test debut at No.6 against India four years ago.

Speaking last week, coach Justin Langer urged the Hobart quartet to not be distracted by the prospect of playing at the Gabba, saying Renshaw's axing on the eve of last summer's Ashes should act as a cautionary tale.

"When you get side-tracked by the future or selection, you forget to keep your eyes on the ball and be good at what you are, which is a batsman," Langer said.

"We know Matt is a good player and a great lesson should be learned for young batsmen, think about now and the future will look after itself.

"No different to that CA XI, it's a great opportunity for guys to think about that game and selection will look after itself. 

"If they side-tracked by getting selected in the Test team then the chances of them performing are lessened. 

"That's mental toughness, the sort of thing we like to see – that the guys are learning lessons and performing when all different pressures come on."

The CA XI v Sri Lanka match in Hobart will be live streamed for free on cricket.com.au, the CA Live app and cricket.com.au on YouTube. Play in the pink-ball match starts at 2pm AEDT

CA XI: Joe Burns (c), Matthew Renshaw, Kurtis Patterson, Marnus Labuschagne, Will Pucovski, Jason Sangha, Jake Doran (wk), Michael Neser, Chris Tremain, Scott Boland, Jon Holland

Domain Test Series v Sri Lanka

Australia: Tim Paine (c/wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Will Pucovski, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha

CA XI: Joe Burns (c), Kurtis Patterson (vc), Scott Boland, Jake Doran (wk), Jon Holland, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Will Pucovski, Jason Sangha, Matt Renshaw, Chris Tremain

Jan 17-19: Tour match, CA XI v SL, Hobart (D/N)

Jan 24-28: First Test, Gabba (D/N)

Feb 1-5: Second Test, Canberra