Burns at ease with Gabba advantage

Facing the seaming, swinging pink ball on a fresh Gabba wicket is not everyone's cup of tea.

But it may just be Joe Burns' ticket back into the Test fold.

The Queensland opener hopes his affinity with the Gabba counts in his favour as he eyes a potential Test return at his home ground later this month.

Burns scored his first hundred for Australia at the Gabba in 2015 - one of three in a 14-Test career that has netted 919 runs.

He appears locked in a battle with Bulls teammate Matthew Renshaw and incumbent Marcus Harris to open against the Sri Lankans.

Burns will captain a CA XI side featuring Renshaw against the same opponents next week.

He began his career in the baggy green at No.6 and is happy to bat anywhere if it means a return to the Test arena on home turf.

"Anyone that plays (a Test) at their home domestic ground has a huge advantage in my opinion," he said.

"You certainly miss it when you're not there; when you have time away and come back you appreciate the good times a hell of a lot."

The 29-year-old was parachuted into the Australian top order alongside Renshaw following the Cape Town ball tampering affair last year.

He top scored with 42 in the second innings of a heavy defeat but has not been sighted in the six Tests since despite David Warner and Cameron Bancroft's suspensions.

Weight of runs has told though, with Burns' 1073 in his past 10 JLT Sheffield Shield matches eventually forcing selectors' hands following the historic loss to India.

"That was a long time ago," he said of his last Test knock in April last year.

"But I always trusted that if I made runs and put performances on the board there'd be opportunities there.

"There's been plenty said in the press and commentary on TV (about a recall) but it's been a nice distraction with the Big Bash (it) really mentally freshens you up a bit."

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