David Warner made a run-scoring return from injury before an unlikely South Australian source caused some NSW batting blues in their Sheffield Shield match.
Warner, in his comeback innings from a broken thumb, posted a composed 77, batting for three hours on Wednesday's opening day of the Adelaide Oval fixture.
But SA captain Travis Head's spin triggered a NSW slide - the visitors declared at 9-262 after losing their last eight wickets for 90 runs.
SA then wobbled to 3-3 at stumps, their top three - Kelvin Smith, Mark Cosgrove and Callum Ferguson - all dismissed for ducks as Test quick Mitchell Starc took 2-1 from three overs.
Earlier, SA's Head claimed 3-42, his best first-class figures, capturing the prized wickets of Warner, captain Steve Smith (67) and Nic Maddinson (17).
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Warner, watched by national coach Darren Lehmann, proved his fitness of the first Test against New Zealand starting on November 5.
The left-hander and Smith combined for a 120-run partnership for the second wicket to place their state in command at 1-172.
But Head, who had only five first-class wickets entering the game, snared three of the next four scalps against a NSW line-up boasting nine Test players - and the other two have one-day international experience.
The Blues' batsmen, and later their SA counterparts, can't blame the pink ball, which behaved truly and didn't lose its lustre at a venue where the inaugural day-night Test will be played later next month.
Warner was scratchy early on return from a broken thumb suffered on September 5, and was gifted a reprieve on 21 when Cosgrove turfed a sitter of a catch at first slip from the bowling of Joe Mennie (3-45).
But the left-hander gained fluency with each delivery of his 114-ball knock - his only obvious physical discomfort was when struck on the damaged thumb by an Adam Zampa legspinner.
Warner rapidly shook off the blow and continued batting before causing his own demise when caught at cover trying an extravagant drive from Head.
His skipper soon followed, unlucky to be judged caught - Smith appeared to hit the ground with his bat and miss the ball, which evaded wicketkeeper Tim Ludeman and was caught by Tom Cooper at first slip, diving to his left.
