Opener Rob Quiney led a Victorian fightback on the first day of the crucial Sheffield Shield clash against Western Australia at the WACA Ground.

At tea on day one, the Bushrangers were 4-173, with Quiney on 58 and Glenn Maxwell not out 40.

Having been sent in to bat on Thursday by replacement WA captain Adam Voges, the Bushrangers were in early trouble at 3-56 when Cameron White (17) again fell cheaply.

However, Quiney held the innings together with a fighting half-century on a wicket offering assistance to the seam bowlers.

Maxwell, who was beaten numerous times in the first couple of overs he faced, has dominated the pair’s 48-run partnership.

He’d only faced 37 balls, hitting six fours and one six.

At the other end of the scale, Quiney had been at the crease for 242 minutes and faced 192 balls.

Michael Hogan was the best of the WA bowlers with 3-47, claiming the wickets of Chris Rogers (18), Aaron Finch (0) and Peter Handscomb (34).