Southwell opened the bowling against the Western Australian Second XI on Monday, and started with a tidy spell of 0/14 off six overs, before finishing the first innings with 0/66 off 15 overs.

``I was happy with the first spell but then I just bowled a little bit loose,'' the rangy fast bowler said.

``It was good though, it's been a goal of mine for the whole pre-season to play with the Comets and you get to play quality opposition.''

The 23-year-old is the third Queanbeyan player to be named in the team this year alongside club and ACT Captain Mark Higgs and opening batsman John Dean.

After battling shin splints and a hip flexor injury over the last two years, Southwell has returned to full fitness and earned his chance at representative level with a strong start at club level this season.

He said playing for the Comets was a steep learning curve.

``The standard's a whole lot different, everyone's an actual batter not just a fill-in,'' he said.

``You have to be on target pretty much every ball, not just for one or two overs otherwise you get snapped.''

Southwell said his next goal was to establish himself in the team and start taking wickets.