Starc spell turns Shield match

South Australian paceman Chadd Sayers gained currency on Saturday but it was NSW quick Mitchell Starc who stole the show under lights late on day two at Adelaide Oval.

NSW were frustrated early by Redbacks openers Jake Weatherland and John Dalton in their second dig, the unheralded pair putting on an opening partnership of 137 - 45 more than the entire SA first innings - with Weatherald making 71 and Dalton 64.

But the Redbacks then lost 4-8 with Starc taking three of them - two in consecutive deliveries, including bowling Head first ball with a ripping in-dipper.

Starc claimed 3-55 from 17 overs, Cummins had 0-43 from 19 overs and spinner Nathan Lyon, who didn't bowl in the first innings, had 1-18 from 11 overs.

South Australia ended the day 4-145, still trailling the Blues' first-innings total by five runs.

With Ashes spots on the line in the opening Shield round, Redbacks batsman Travis Head and NSW's Peter Nevill failed to bank a deposit on an Ashes spot.

Test candidate Head was dismissed for a golden duck and gloveman Nevill couldn't press his claims with the bat, making 20 for the Blues.

But SA quick Sayers made a case with four NSW wickets, as the Blues were all out for 242 in their first innings having skittled the Redbacks for 92 on day one.

Sayers claimed 4-82 from 27 overs, giving Test selectors more food for thought ahead of the five-Test Ashes series against England.

The SA swing bowler was denied the opportunity to stake a Test bid in October when Australia A's tour of South Africa was cancelled because of the pay dispute.

But Sayers wasted little time in continuing his domestic wicket-taking ways - he has 205 Shield wickets at an average around 23.

Sayers is battling Jackson Bird for the status as Australia's fourth paceman behind NSW trio Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who was rested from the Shield opener.

Like SA's Head, Blues wicketkeeper Nevill couldn't make a compelling case with the bat for a Test recall.

After Test incumbent Matthew Wade made just one run for Tasmania in the first innings of their Shield game against Western Australia, Nevill resumed on Saturday on five not out.

But a big score eluded him, making 20 from 67 balls before being trapped lbw.