Stephen O'Keefe did his chances of a first Test start no harm while spin partner Nathan Lyon copped some heavy treatment in Australia's tour match in Colombo on Monday.
Australia dismissed the Sri Lanka Cricket Board XI for 229 at tea on the opening day of their three-day match at P Sara Stadium.
O'Keefe led the way, the left-armer snaring 5-43 as he staked a strong claim for inclusion in Australia's XI for the opening Test in Kandy starting next Tuesday.
In contrast, 54-Test stalwart Lyon was both wicketless and expensive, returning figures of 0-72 from 13 overs.
Mitchell Starc, in his first first-class match since last November's pink ball Test against New Zealand after recovering from an ankle injury, was impressive taking 2-39.
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Jackson Bird (2-26) shared the new ball with Starc in Josh Hazlewood's absence while allrounder Mitch Marsh (1-47) bowled first-change.
Marsh is a good chance to be Australia's third paceman if the tourists opt to go with both Lyon and O'Keefe on what is likely to be a spin-friendly Kandy wicket.
Asela Gunarathna (58) and skipper Milinda Siriwardana (53) racked up a 101-run fourth-wicket partnership for the home side.
Gunarathna was caught by Steve Smith early in the second session when the skipper anticipated a sweep shot from the bowling of O'Keefe and ran around from first slip to take the catch.
Opening batsman David Warner was left out of the side as he continues his recovery from a broken finger.
