NSW suffered a major collapse to be on the brink of conceding first innings points in their must-win Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia at lunch on day two at the SCG.

Under overcast skies and with the ball hooping around, the going was tough early on but the Blues were steadily eating away at the Redbacks’ first innings offering of 182.

Then shortly after drinks the wheels fell off with the hosts losing 5-27 to fall from 1-68 to be 6-95 before a minor recovery had them 6-108 at lunch.

That left the Blues 75 runs short of first innings points with Trent Copeland unbeaten on 10 and former skipper Stephen O’Keefe on 12 not out.

Gentle left-arm paceman Gary Putland (3-48) triggered the collapse when he had opener Scott Henry (35) caught on the crease and adjudged lbw, before debutant Daniel Hughes followed him almost immediately for 26.

Suddenly their 46-run second-wicket partnership was a distant memory.

Nic Maddinson (10), Ben Rohrer (1) and Peter Nevill (3) all fell in quick succession as Putland and Chadd Sayers (3-30) made the most of the helpful conditions.

The wicket and overhead conditions were so favourable to the seam bowlers that captain Johan Botha (0-5) sent himself into the attack bowling medium pace rather than the tricky off spin for which he is known.