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Queensland dominated after losing Test players Joe Burns and Marnus Labuschagne, as Usman Khawaja claimed a century in their Sheffield Shield match against SA.

Usman Khawaja has offered national selectors a late reminder of his silky talents while Joe Burns's Test spot looks increasingly shaky after an eventful start to the Queensland-South Australia Sheffield Shield clash.

At stumps on day one at ACH Group Stadium, Queensland were 4-331 after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Matthew Renshaw (84) and Jimmy Peirson (60) were the not out batsmen.

Khawaja dominated the Redbacks attack and crashed 92 of his 131 runs in boundaries, including two sixes - but with plenty of runscorers in the first four rounds of Shield his exploits are unlikely to do much for his Test prospects.

However Burns (10) may be batting himself out of a Baggy Green.

The incumbent opener has now compiled just 46 runs in four innings, while counterpart Will Pucovski laid on another huge score, finishing day one on 183 not out for Victoria against Western Australia.

Flashing outside off stump from Daniel Worrall (1-77) only to inside edge the ball to 'keeper Harry Nielsen, Burns looked unhappy with the decision.

There were no such complaints from Marnus Labuschagne, who was out for 0, pushing hard forward and edging straight to second slip off the bowling of Chadd Sayers (1-65).

It has been a rocks or diamonds start for the Test No.3, who has two ducks and two centuries from his last four innings.

Coming in at 2-11, Khawaja cast aside the early upsets to quickly take the sting from the SA attack.

He dominated in a 128-run stand with Bryce Street (38) before putting on 103 with the more like-minded Renshaw.

Khawaja was eventually out to Wes Agar (1-60), caught at first slip by Callum Ferguson, who is playing his last match for the Redbacks.

While South Australia have struggled this season and were lucky to pull out two draws in their last two matches, Agar felt they had bowled well on Sunday.

"Our opening bowlers made the most of that new ball, obviously getting Labuschagne was a massive wicket early and then Khawaja batted very well but thankfully we got him later in the day," Agar said.

"With the wickets that we've got this year so far it's a grind and we know we've got a grind, but we are really happy with the way we went today."