Beefy Tasmanian import Mark Cosgrove says making a meal of his former state South Australia isn't a case of revenge being a dish best served cold.

Cosgrove's ton, and a side helping hundred by Alex Doolan, helped the Tigers to a commanding 2-354 at stumps on Tuesday's opening day of the Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide.

Doolan was unbeaten on 141 while former Australian captain Ricky Ponting also looms large on 60 not out.

Cosgrove says his stylish 104 is sweet - but not any sweeter because the Redbacks dumped him in 2010.

"You always want to make runs no matter where you are," Cosgrove said.

"I have played here for most of my career so it's always nice coming back to Adelaide Oval.

"I know the pitch and know the conditions pretty well, it just makes it a little bit easier."

Cosgrove and Doolan feasted on SA's bowlers during a 166-run partnership for the second wicket.

They were united after SA's new captain, South African Johan Botha, took his first Shield wicket by dismissing Test opener Ed Cowan, lbw for 35.

Botha later unwillingly gave Cosgrove a reprieve, turfing a tough diving catching chance when the left-hander was on 47.

The missed opportunity was one of two dropped catches from luckless Test offspinner Nathan Lyon (0-93 from 29 overs) - Redback Chadd Sayers was red-faced after spilling a catch from Doolan's blade when the Tasmanian was on 37.

Ponting was also dropped by second slip Phil Hughes from Sayers' bowling in the third last over of the day.

The fielding blues came as SA lost three fielders to injury - Tom Cooper, Travis Head and Gary Putland.

Cooper didn't return after suffering a suspected broken middle finger on his right hand when stopping a blazing Cosgrove drive just after lunch.

Head was whacked on a shoulder by a ball when fielding in close and sidelined for two hours before returning late in the day when Putland went off with an injured finger.

Cooper and Head were expected to bat for a home side without ex-skipper Michael Klinger, ruled out before play because of a shoulder injury.