Matthew Wade says the Victorian captaincy is proving just what he needs in a year in which he was axed from Australia’s Test and one-day sides.

While players around the nation will use the Sheffield Shield season, which starts on Wednesday, to press claims for the upcoming Ashes series, Wade is barely contemplating that prospect.

The 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, dumped in favour of veteran Brad Haddin for the mid-year Ashes series in England before also being dropped from the one-day side, is instead absorbing himself in his domestic duties.

“I haven’t really thought much about it at all,” Wade told AAP of his hopes of an international recall.

“To come back and captain has been a blessing in disguise.

“To be able to put my attention into the team, I haven’t had to worry about that stuff.”

Wade, who replaced long-time skipper Cameron White, led the Bushrangers through the recent one-day competition.

The MCG clash with Western Australia which starts on Wednesday will be his first taste of four-day captaincy.

But with veterans such as White, Test opener Chris Rogers and David Hussey alongside him, he feels well supported.

Wade said he had little choice but to take his international axings on the chin, given he didn’t perform as hoped.

But he believes he’ll be better prepared if he gets another chance, after being taken aback by the intensity of the spotlight while keeping for Australia.

“I learnt a hell of a lot,” he said.

“I don’t think anyone really knows until they experience that.

“It’s something that you can either deal with or you can’t, I suppose.

“You get better at it the longer you play at that level.

“It’s an eye-opener – for people that come from this (state) level to play at that (international) level it will be a shock at first for sure.”

WA will also have a first-time captain, Shaun Marsh, filling in for Australian one-day player Adam Voges.

Marsh is vying to fill the No.6 Test batting spot, among several players in the MCG game who will be pushing their Ashes claims.

Teams: Victoria: Matthew Wade (capt), Fawad Ahmed, Scott Boland, Dan Christian, Peter Handscomb, John Hastings, Jon Holland, David Hussey, Rob Quiney, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Cameron White.

WA: Shaun Marsh (capt), Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Will Bosisto, Hilton Cartwright, Michael Hogan, Jaron Morgan, Marcus North, Nathan Rimmington, John Rogers, Sam Whiteman. (12th men to be named).