Bottom side South Australia sent Victoria staggering to lunch at 5-96 on the first day of their Sheffield Shield clash on Monday.

Victoria captain Cameron White After won the toss and decided his batsmen were capable of handling the green-tinged MCG pitch but his plan started to unravel in the opening over.

Joe Mennie was a key weapon for the Redbacks, taking 3-11 off 8.5 overs after blasting through the defences of Peter Handscomb (six) in the final over before lunch.

Andrew McDonald was seven not out.

Mennie bowled Chris Rogers for a first-ball duck in the third delivery of the match.

The 23-year-old former NSW junior struck again in his second over when Aaron Finch was caught at third slip, also for a duck.

Rob Quiney (45) and White (31) added 74 for the third wicket but again the Redbacks made a double breakthrough.

Dropped at first slip on five, the out-of-form White hit three fours in his 58-ball innings before he was caught bat-pad at 3-79.

Second-gamer Carl Tietjens (2-32) claimed his second wicket four balls later when the right-arm quick trapped Quiney lbw in a major setback to Victoria’s hopes of posting a big total.

Victoria named paceman Scott Boland as 12th man while spinner Aaron O’Brien will carry the drinks for the Redbacks.