Mitchell Starc has claimed two early wickets to put NSW in the box seat in their Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania, the Tigers 3-59 and still trailing by 37 runs at tea on day three.

Fresh from taking a five-wicket haul in the first innings, Starc has bowled with great control in the second with figures of 2-11 from his 11 overs.

He had Alex Doolan caught at point for seven in his third over, before trapping Jordan Silk lbw on the back foot for 28 just before the tea break.

Playing in just one Test during the Ashes, Starc is favoured to reclaim his spot ahead of next month’s first Test at the Gabba. He took 5-40 in the first innings.

Trent Copeland picked up the other wicket for NSW with a ball that seamed back to bowl Beau Webster for two.

Matt Wade remains not out on 11, having soaked up 68 balls.

Moises Henriques and Steve Smith had earlier put NSW in control of the match as they both scored hundreds on Saturday before falling early on Sunday.

Young Tasmanian quick Riley Meredith was the chief destroyer for the Tigers, as he took his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

Meredith knocked over Smith with a yorker for 106 early in the morning session, as part of a nine-over spell of 4-14.

The right-armer at one stage took three wickets in four balls, ending a 197-run stand between Smith and Henriques (124) when he had the allrounder caught behind hooking.

Meredith then clean bowled Peter Nevill next ball, before removing Smith with an inswinger that rebounded off Australia’s former captain’s boot and onto the stumps.

The wickets sparked a collapse of 8-84, with NSW all out for 364 in reply to the Tigers’ 268.

Meanwhile Test aspirant Kurtis Patterson continues to battle a quad injury that is affecting his hopes of a recall.

The left-hander batted at No.11 with a runner for NSW, but still looked uncomfortable with the injury as he scored an unbeaten 16.