SA chasing Tigers' 285 total

HOBART, Feb 27 AAP - South Australia lost two early wickets in its attempt to chase Tasmania's first innings tally of 285 at stumps on day one of the Pura Cup match at Bellerive Oval today.

The visitors ended day one on two for 17 from eight overs and are desperate for an outright victory to stay in contention for the final.

But fast-bowler Gerard Denton had other ideas, dispatching Redbacks' openers Shane Deitz (5) and David Fitzgerald (9) in successive overs for figures of two for nine.

Allrounder Dan Marsh earlier proved the Tigers' saviour, delivering an innings-topping 111 runs after coming to the crease with the home team wallowing on four for 66 in 21.2 overs.

Marsh withstood the Redbacks' consistent attack to take his fifth domestic first-class century in 186 minutes off 156 balls before being clean bowled by Ben Johnson.

The 29-year-old's partnership with Sean Clingeleffer (44) yielded 96 runs.

SA strike bowler Paul Rofe was also a top performer, taking five for 62 in 22 overs including the prize scalp of Tigers' skipper and opener Jamie Cox for 22.

After winning the toss, Cox reached the 10,000-run tally in domestic first-class cricket before falling LBW to Rofe.

Starting out just 10 runs shy, Cox joined Australian World Cup batsman Darren Lehmann (11,095) and former South Australian batsman Jamie Siddons (10,643) on the milestone.

Cox later said rumours he planned to retire - floated in a television interview last week - were untrue.

"I really still feel quite good," he said.

"All year I have managed to get to 20 or 30 very easily.

"I feel I can play certainly another three or four years, form permitting."

He described Marsh's form today as "outstanding".

Languishing on the bottom of the Cup ladder, the Tigers started the day plagued by injury.

Already down Damien Wright and Ben Oliver, the home team suffered a further blow this morning when paceman Adam Griffith failed a fitness test on a calf strain and left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty was ruled out after lacerating his left knee during warm-up exercises.