Western Australia have snared the key wicket of opener Ryan Carters but NSW are well in control on the first day of the Sheffield Shield final in Canberra.

Carters (72) was caught behind off the bowling of Michael Hogan (1-25) on the third last ball before tea, leaving NSW to go into the break at 2-164.

NSW skipper Steve Smith has backed up his stellar Test form and remains undefeated on 65 after earlier winning the toss and opting to bat on a flattish Manuka Oval deck.

With NSW only needing a draw the five-day match to claim the Shield title, Carters was in no hurry, bringing up his 50 off 158 balls in the 50th over.

His classy 72 means he’s now the second-highest run scorer for NSW in a debut season, passing Michael Bevan’s 854 in 1990-91, but still 76 runs short of Mark Taylor’s 1985-86 efforts.

Smith brought up his half century (111 balls) two overs after Carters, after surviving an appeal for caught behind while on 49.

Opener Nic Maddinson (14) contributed to an opening stand of 43 runs before he played across the crease and was trapped lbw by paceman Ryan Duffield (1-44) in the 14th over.

NSW’s strong start spells real danger for WA, as no away team has won the Shield final since 2004-05.

More than 1000 fans have taken advantage of the free entry for the five-day final.

The Warriors are contesting their first Shield final in 15 years, while NSW last lifted the trophy in 2008.

The Blues secured the hosting rights last week with their three-wicket victory against WA but chose to stage the final in Canberra because the SCG was booked for the Major League Baseball season-opening series this weekend.