South Australia have made a steady start chasing Tasmania’s first-innings total of 291 on day two of the Sheffield Shield match at Adelaide Oval.

The Redbacks are 2-72 at tea after bowling out the visitors on the final ball before lunch.

Fresh off a thrilling 98-run knock against Western Australia last week, teenage sensation Travis Head is 40 not out, while Tom Cooper is unbeaten on one.

Head, 19, has smashed a stunning seven boundaries already and breathed fire into a lethargic Redbacks innings.

Phil Hughes could not maintain the momentum from a juggernaut maiden double ton against WA last Friday after he was caught at slip for just seven.

Former Redbacks skipper Michael Klinger could also not sustain his century-making form from the Warriors clash, after being struck on the pads for lbw by Xavier Doherty (1-4) for 21.

After a 20-minute rain delay to start Saturday’s play, the visitors resumed on 6-226 with allrounders James Faulkner and Luke Butterworth at the crease.

Faulkner smashed an early boundary, but the left-armer’s hopes of posting a big score ahead of the second Ashes Test were soon over when he was dismissed by swing bowler Chadd Sayers (2-51) for 27.

Butterworth then fell two overs later on eight when he drove high in the air to Head at cover to give Sayers his second wicket of the morning.

The Redbacks were on track to clean up the tail early until tail-end spin duo Clive Rose and Doherty combined for 37 runs in a plucky ninth-wicket stand.

The pair couldn’t hang on until the meal break though with Rose the first to depart for 19 when Redbacks quick Joe Mennie (1-47) trapped the orthodox bowler lbw.

Doherty (21) was also dismissed with lunch pending, legspinner Adam Zampa snaring his scalp to finish with figures of 3-71.