Copeland could be forgiven for feeling his three Tests in Sri Lanka last year are a distant memory following the emergence of pace young-guns James Pattinson and Pat Cummins, and the resurgence of Peter Siddle.

The New South Wales spearhead was doing what he does best on a rain-marred day 2 of the Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at Bellerive yesterday, leaking just 16 runs from 13 overs as the Tigers reached 0-81 in reply to NSW's 7(dec)-341.

The 25-year-old took six wickets in his three matches for Australia and is aware he needs to lift his tally of just two from three Shield games this summer if he is to push his claims again.

``I've got to concentrate on taking wickets for NSW, same as before I was in the Test team,'' he said.

Copeland had to battle four rain delays yesterday, with less than two hours play possible because of persistent showers in Hobart.

Also battling the conditions were the Tigers' former NSW opening pair Ed Cowan (37no) and Steven Cazzulino (36no).

The pair picked up where they had left off when they staged an opening partnership of 0-272 in the second innings of Tasmania's last match against the Blues, in Canberra last December.

``It's brilliant. No matter how hard you try to say it isn't a big deal, you always just up that little bit more for a game against NSW personally,'' Cazzulino said.

``Hopefully tomorrow we can really do a bit of damage.''