Copeland puts NSW in command of SA

NSW paceman Trent Copeland took six South Australian wickets to give the Blues the upper hand after day one of the Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide.

Trent Copeland was the chief destroyer for NSW in SA's first innings. (AAP)

Ashes aspirant Travis Head botched a chance to press his Test claims as a wily seamer gifted NSW command of South Australia in their Sheffield Shield match on Friday.

Blues paceman Trent Copeland bagged six wickets to skittle Head's Redbacks for a meagre 92 on the opening day at Adelaide Oval.

NSW are 5-153 in reply at stumps with Test opener David Warner making a gritty 83 -- the only batsman to pass 30 on the day.

Warner's state and national captain Steve Smith made just three runs in his return from a shoulder injury, which forced him out of the recent Twenty20 series in India.

His SA counterpart Head was hoping to boost his bid to earn a Test cap for the looming Ashes series against England.

But the left-handed batsman made only eight as the Redbacks folded meekly against a Copeland-inspired bowling attack.

Another Ashes candidate, Redbacks wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey, made 12 before being the last man out, while NSW gloveman Peter Nevill was five not out in the Blues' innings.

Copeland took 6-24 as the Redbacks, after winning the toss, wilted -- they lost their 10 wickets for just 60 runs after being 0-32.

Test quicks Mitchell Starc (2-46) and Pat Cummins (2-22) were also among the wickets and Australian spinner Nathan Lyon wasn't needed.

After Cummins took two of the initial three wickets to fall, Copeland snared five of the remaining seven with a blend of seam movement and nagging line and length.

Cummins bowled SA opener John Dalton (15) and, after Copeland had SA stalwart Callum Ferguson caught at slip for a duck, then dismissed Jake Weatherald (30).

Copeland trapped Jake Lehmann lbw for 10 and, next ball, bowled Tom Cooper for a golden duck before dismissing Head, who spooned a catch to mid-on to end his 29-ball stay.

NSW batsmen also struggled, apart from a cautious Warner who faced 139 deliveries and struck eight boundaries.

Captain Smith was unhappy at being given out lbw to a Chadd Sayers delivery, which was angling legside, while Nic Maddinson (five), Kurtis Patterson (14) and Moises Henriques (11) fell cheaply.

Sayers was the pick of SA's bowlers with 2-58 from 18 overs.