Luke Butterworth picked up
the wickets of Western Australia's top four batsmen on Tuesday, including Marcus North and Adam Voges, on his way to 4-34 in the season opener at the
WACA Ground.
While Copeland has deservedly gone on to higher honours, Butterworth is yet to be tested at international level and has had to be content with Australia A selection.
His flying start to the season could not have been timed any better, with Australia's Test squad for the
tour of South Africa expected to be announced next week.
But Butterworth is refusing to get ahead of himself.
"Not at all," Butterworth said on Tuesday when asked if national team selection was on his mind.
"It's always good getting picked for Australia A and that was a great experience.
"But at the moment I'm just concentrating on playing for Tassie and doing well for them.
"It's always good to back up a good season. In your first game there's a bit of pressure on you to repeat the performance so getting a few wickets in the first game was a bit of a relief."
Standing in Butterworth's way is the abundance of fast-bowling candidates who will come into consideration for the two Tests against the Proteas.
Ryan Harris appears to be the only paceman assured of selection with Copeland, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger and youngsters James Pattinson and Patrick Cummins sure to be considered.
But Butterworth's ability with the bat - he has two first-class hundreds and
an average of 28.01 - could give him the advantage he needs.
Fox Sports commentator Damien Fleming, who worked with Butterworth in his former role as head coach of the Australian Cricket Academy, rates the Tasmanian highly.
But the 20-Test veteran says Butterworth may have left his run too late to secure a spot in the squad to face the Proteas.
"He might be an outsider ... but he might just miss out on South Africa," Fleming told
foxsports.com.au.
"I would think he's right up there. He's got a classic late outswinger, he's nice and tall and even though he's not the quickest bowler going around, he's accurate.
"And he's got a fair bit of class with the bat. I rate him a better batsman than Mitchell Johnson and obviously a different type of bowler. I rate him a genuine all-rounder and definitely an option as a bowling all-rounder who bats at No.7 or No.8."
While the ODI squad for the South Africa tour has already been announced, Fleming says Butterworth has the ability to play for Australia in all forms of the game.
"He might have been a chance when
John Hastings got injured because he's an all-rounder.
"I think he can play all forms because I think he can adjust his game. In one day cricket he uses his bounce and bowls a lot of off-cutters and then in four-day cricket he dominated last year and he dominates generally with his out-swinger.
"I think he's become a lot more flexible as a player. I think his body is a lot better ... that was a bit of a problem.
"I think he believes he's good enough now particularly with the way he played last year. I think sometimes that's the biggest thing for a lot of these cricketers ... the one who actually believes in himself the most (will be successful).
"There's no doubt Buttsy should believe in himself after the way he produced in the last 18 months."
