Victorian Rob Quiney is closing in on his 10th first-class century after riding his luck in the Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia at the WACA Ground.

At tea on the opening day, Victoria were 4-213 after WA won the toss and elected to bowl, with Quiney on 82 and Matthew Wade on five.

Quiney was given a life on 14 when Cameron Bancroft dropped a sharp chance at third slip.

And the two-Test batsman was given another reprieve on 44 when his edge off Nathan Rimmington flew untouched between wicketkeeper Sam Whiteman and first slip Adam Voges.

The 32-year-old then managed to escape the mid-session carnage caused by paceman Michael Hogan, who snared three quick wickets to send Victoria tumbling from 0-118 to 3-128.

Aaron Finch cracked a 46-ball half-century to help steady the ship, while Quiney also kept the runs ticking over to put Victoria in a solid position heading into the final session.

Marcus Stoinis (58) was the first to fall when Michael Klinger held onto a superb catch at gully and, four balls later, Hogan (3-38) bowled Dan Christian for a duck.

Cameron White became Hogan’s third victim he was trapped lbw, while paceman Rimmington finally got reward for his hard work when Finch was caught at deep fine leg.

Victoria were dealt a big blow on Monday when in-form batsman Peter Handscomb injured his finger at training and was ruled out of the match.

Handscomb had been in hot form this season, cracking 348 runs at an average of 116.

But his late withdrawal paved the way for Stoinis to return to the side after overcoming an ankle injury.