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Shaun Marsh's fighting half-century and a wagging tail have helped Western Australia to recover with the bat in their Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland.

Western Australia's tail has wagged after a fighting half-century by former Test batsman Shaun Marsh in their Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland at the Gabba.

At stumps on Saturday's opening day, the visitors were 7-255 after Cameron Green and Jhye Richardson helped the Warriors recover from a middle-order collapse with an unbroken 84-run stand.

Green was not out 50 - his maiden first-class half-century - and ex-Test seamer Richardson unbeaten on 35.

After the Bulls won the toss, WA recovered from 2-2 in the third over to be cruising at 2-120 before losing 5-51 including the prized scalp of Marsh for 77.

In a knock that would have made Test selectors sit up and take notice, Marsh shared a 118-run third-wicket stand with Marcus Stoinis (44) before the Bulls hit back hard.

Marsh was finally caught at bat-pad off legspinner Mitch Swepson (1-48) early in the final session.

It ended an impressive 167-ball knock that lasted almost four hours and included 13 boundaries.

"He was looking pretty ominous. He is one of only a few guys around the country who make first class cricket look easy," Bulls quick Cameron Gannon (4-74) said of Marsh's knock.

"For us to get him out when we did was important. But it was a frustrating little period for us at the end."

After the Warriors emerged from the tea break at 3-122, Gannon and Michael Neser (2-45) helped rip through WA's middle order before the stubborn eighth-wicket stand.

Green was dropped on 28 off Gannon, Joe Burns putting down a difficult slips chance.

WA crawled to lunch at 2-58 after recovering from their disastrous start.

Sam Whiteman was caught behind off Gannon for a golden duck off the Queensland quick's first ball and only seventh delivery of the innings.

Then ex-Test opener Cameron Bancroft was dismissed for an 11-ball duck by Neser, marking the third-consecutive time in Shield cricket he had been caught at short fine leg.

His dismissal on Saturday reduced his Shield run tally to date to just 46 runs at 11.50.

Bulls opener Matt Renshaw was again unavailable after missing Thursday's Queensland-WA one-day clash due to a stomach bug, spending Friday on a drip in hospital.