An unbeaten half-century to Alex Carey has helped South Australia to 4-298 at stumps on the first day of their Sheffield Shield clash with New South Wales at Adelaide Oval.
Carey hit nine boundaries on his way to 86 from 159 balls, with Harry Nielsen to resume with Carey on Sunday on 49.
Jake Weatherald (66) and Travis Head (64) also made half-centuries after Head won the toss and chose to face an imposing NSW attack containing Test stars Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.
In warm conditions, the Redbacks made a watchful start to their innings.
Henry Hunt went in the 14th over, Lyon bowling the opener for nine.
But Weatherald soon warmed to the task, the opener smashing 10 fours to reach 66 before he was also bowled by Lyon.
"It was good for me to go out to play against the best bowlers and survive (and score runs) was really good for me personally," Weatherald said.
"It's good confidence that my processes are working well.
"I think (the game) is pretty well placed for us. If we can get to 400-plus then that's a pretty good total.
"The wicket was taking a fair bit of spin so it was pretty good. As the wicket breaks up I think it will allow our bowlers to attack the stumps late in the game."
SA were 1-72 at lunch but lost No.3 batsman Liam Scott (17) in Hazlewood's first over after the break.
Lyon also trapped Head lbw to finish the day with figures of 3-99 from 33 overs, with eight maidens.
NSW have been significantly bolstered by the inclusion of four Test players, with David Warner joining Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon in the line-up.
SA spinner Joe Medew-Ewen is making his first-class debut.
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