Australia's plans for the Test series against South Africa have been upset by a hamstring injury to Shaun Marsh, making him an unlikely starter for the opening match at the WACA Ground in Perth.

Marsh, who has a long history of hamstring trouble, suffered the injury while batting for Western Australia against Tasmania in a Matador Cup match at North Sydney Oval on Saturday.

"Shaun Marsh has sustained a low grade tear to his right hamstring while batting against Tasmania at North Sydney Oval on Saturday," a WACA spokesman said. "Marsh will return to Perth where he will undergo rehabilitation with a view to being available for selection for the first Test against South Africa at the WACA Ground next month."

Before the injury, Marsh had seemed likely to retain his place in the top six after making a century on his recall to the Test team in the third Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in August.

Marsh had played in place of Joe Burns, with Usman Khawaja making way for Moises Henriques. Khawaja is expected to be recalled for the home Tests, and Burns may now also find himself back in the team pending Marsh's recovery.

While Marsh opened alongside David Warner in Sri Lanka, he would have been more likely to assume a middle-order role in Australia.