Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey has scored 90 as he helped South Australia earn a 205-run lead in their Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland.

After a chaotic opening day at the Adelaide Oval when 17 wickets fell, the Redbacks were able to halt the carnage and force their way in front of the Bulls on Saturday.

South Australia lost six wickets in the final session but the 119-run stand between Carey and captain Jake Lehmann (58) could still prove to be matchwinning.

The Redbacks lost 5-18 after Carey was dismissed 10 runs short of his seventh first-class century to keep Queensland in the contest.

South Australia were out for 232 in their second innings, setting the bottom-of-the-table Bulls a chase of 206.

Carey's knock off 116 balls, coming after he made 49 of the Redbacks' 132 in their first innings, was timely ahead of Australia's upcoming Test tour of New Zealand.

The 32-year-old has been below his best with the bat since the infamous stumping of Jonny Bairstow during last year's Ashes and Australia will be hoping Carey returns to his best against the Black Caps.

The Redbacks' second innings ended seven minutes before stumps were due to be called, with Nathan McAndrew blasting an unbeaten 24 to push the lead over the 200 mark.

Queensland bowling allrounder Michael Neser, who has been recalled to the Australian Test squad for the New Zealand tour, took 3-51 to finish with five wickets for the match.

Mark Steketee picked up 3-49, while fellow quicks Xavier Bartlett and Gurinder Sandhu claimed two wickets each.

Young South Australian opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has been touted as a future Test player by the likes of Ricky Ponting, was out for one after being dismissed for a fourth-ball duck in the first innings.

Queensland will be hoping for big knocks from Marnus Labuschange, who is captaining the Bulls in a Shield match for the first time, and fellow Australian batter Matt Renshaw to give them a chance of securing their second win of the season.