Centuries from Shaun Marsh and Cameron Bancroft have guided Western Australia to a strong position at stumps on the first day of their top-of-the-table Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria.

Marsh joined Bancroft with the Warriors reeling at 3-39, after WA skipper Adam Voges won the toss and elected to bat at the MCG.

The pair then combined for 244 runs to put the Warriors in control before the Vics struck with two late wickets to have the visitors 5-287 at stumps.

With Michael Clarke ruled out of the first Test in Brisbane through injury and potential back-up Phil Hughes in a critical condition in hospital after being struck by a bouncer, Marsh thrust his name under the noses of national selectors with the dynamic display.

The left-hander reached his ton with three successive sixes off the bowling of Fawad Ahmed and finished the day undefeated on 134.

Bancroft displayed impressive focus as wickets fell around him in the first session and reached 132 before he was caught by Cameron White at cover off the bowling of Chris Tremain.

Victorian quick John Hastings got the Bushrangers off to a good start when he bowled Marcus Harris for three runs then dismissed Michael Klinger for a duck after Rob Quiney took a sharp catch at bat pad in the sixth over of the day.

Ahmed chimed in with the wicket of Voges, caught by Cameron White at first slip for eight, but Marsh and Bancroft appeared untroubled for most of the next two sessions.

Hastings was the pick of the Bushrangers’ bowlers with figures of 2-36 from his 20 overs with Ahmed and Tremain claiming the wickets of Jason Behrendorff and Bancroft respectively late in the final session.

Mitch Marsh is the other not out batsman on two.