Marsh, sidelined since he injured his hamstring in the opening Test against India in December, turned up to Ashfield's Pratten Park and was at the crease during the limited-over game's second over.

The West Australian seemed at home in his adopted club's black cap, hitting 38 off 46 balls before falling to a brilliant catch in the outfield and also contributing with the ball, taking 2-12 from four overs.

Marsh turned up to the match adamant he was fit and ready to return to the international arena - if required.

"The 'hammy' has pulled up well and my rehab has gone according to plan, so I'm just looking forward to playing a bit of cricket," he said before going out to bat.

"Monday? I'd be a chance to play [for Australia]. If all goes according to plan today and i get through I'll be available for selection."

Among the handful of spectators who watched Marsh was 85-year-old Alan Davidson, who is ranked with Keith Miller as Australia's greatest all-rounder.

Davidson presented Marsh with his Wests cap and during the ceremony revealed he was the selector who pushed for the 23-year-old's father Geoff to open the batting for Australia in 1985.

Davidson spoke fondly of the youngster, but said Marsh was among a solid group of all-rounders who soon would be competing for the one spot.

"I've watched him quite a bit," Davidson said. "There's so many players like him around Australia at the moment. Take Sean Abbott, he's a similar player.

"They're athletic, they have ability with the bat and ball and I think it's going to be the player who puts the most in, trains hardest, and thinks of the player that he wants to be who will go a long way. I'm watching with interest and I admire their skills."

Marsh said he had trained well in the lead-up to playing for Wests - the Sydney club that hosted his "medical test" for Cricket Australia was decided by a ballot - and conceded  that with the competition for places in the national team hot he would need to make the most of any opportunity.

"It's just about Australia winning and if I can play a role in that, then good," he said. "Obviously if the team is winning the team doesn't change too much, so hopefully that can be the case.

"We've had a few injuries and a lot of blokes have had a big summer already with Dave Warner and Shane Watson, who's nursing a hamstring at the moment. For them to all come back in it's going to be tough for me to get a spot in that side.

"If I can get an opportunity hopefully I can go well."

Marsh was confident he would not be troubled any more by what he called a "minor" injury after he'd invested a lot of time building up his body for the rigours of cricket's three formats.