Ferguson lets Test chance slip in Shield

Baggy greens are on offer but Queensland veteran Chris Hartley reckons it may have been a distraction for South Australia's frustrated Test aspirants in their Sheffield Shield clash at the Gabba.

Incumbent Callum Ferguson let a golden chance to retain his Test spot slip in the Shield clash on Friday, caught behind for just four.

Fellow Test hopefuls Travis Head and Jake Lehmann were also ruing their fate after the Redbacks were 9-222 at stumps on day two in reply to the Bulls' 7(dec)-475 first innings.

Only South Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey kept his head, his 56 not out helping the visitors recover from 5-73 and 6-122.

Hartley said Queensland didn't have a chance to even sledge South Australia's baggy green hopefuls on Friday.

It seems they got inside their own heads.

"I don't think we verballed them at all out in the field, I don't think we got a chance to," Hartley told AAP.

"If players are thinking (Test) selection out in the middle they have probably got their minds on the wrong thing.

"There are a few in every state team who have a reasonable case for selection but we are worrying about the game we have to play - not next week's Test."

National selector Mark Waugh set the stage for a Test bat-off when he said anyone who scored "150 or 100" in this week's Shield round would be considered for next week's day-night third Test against South Africa in Adelaide.

But Ferguson, 31, was caught behind cheaply in a huge blow to his chances of being retained for the pink ball clash.

He made a disastrous debut in Australia's humbling second Test loss in Hobart, scoring a total of just four runs.

His Redbacks teammates aiming to put their hand up in front of national selectors didn't fare much better.

South Australian captain Head looked good until he played a loose shot against Peter George and chopped on for 37.

Baggy green smokey Lehmann - son of national coach Darren - made only seven.

Queensland declared their innings 15 minutes before the lunch break with Hartley 72 not out and Ben Cutting unbeaten on 34.

Redbacks leg-spinner Adam Zampa took 4-141.