Australian opening batsman Shaun Marsh is in doubt for the first Test against South Africa after tearing his hamstring during a domestic one-day cup match on Saturday.

The Western Australian Cricket Association released a statement on Sunday night saying Marsh had sustained a "low grade tear to his right hamstring" while batting in the Warriors' match against Tasmania at North Sydney Oval.

Marsh will return to Perth to undergo treatment, but with the opening match of the three-Test series starting in two-and-a-half weeks on November 3, the 33-year-old left-hander won't have long to prove his fitness.

If selectors require him to show he's ready for Test duty by playing a first-class fixture, Marsh would only have WA's Sheffield Shield match against South Australia starting on October 25 at the WACA in Perth, also the venue for the first Test.

Marsh made 70 in WA's successful run-chase to beat the Tigers in only his second match since back from injury after breaking his left little finger during the one-day series in Sri Lanka in late August.

He scored a classy 130 in Australia's last Test, the third match of the series against Sri Lanka in Colombo, when he replaced Joe Burns at the top of the order.