Western Australia's Ryan Campbell hammered an unbeaten century to leave the Warriors firmly in control at stumps on day one of their Pura Cup cricket match against NSW at the WACA.

The wicketkeeper-batsman was in superb touch, smashing 16 fours in his 108 not out to leave the Warriors at 4-333 after being sent in by Blues captain Shane Lee on a green-tinged wicket.

NSW was on the back foot all day against the resolute Warriors batting lineup spearheaded by opener Michael Hussey (86) before Campbell steadied the innings after it wobbled a little at 4-196.

Left hander Chris Rogers (31no) had to take a backseat as Campbell smashed the Blues bowling attack in then pair's unbeaten 137-run fifth-wicket partnership.

The Blues have lost four of their last five matches outright in the West and their wretched record looks set to continue.

The match is crucial for the Warriors with an outright victory keeping them on track for a berth in the Pura Cup final while NSW is just looking to get off the bottom of the table.

The Blues were unable to make an early breakthrough despite opening bowlers Stuart Clark (0-57) and Nathan Bracken (0-52) beating the bat on several occasions.

Hussey should have been back in the pavilion a lot earlier but Michael Bevan dropped him on 17 in slips off the bowling of Don Nash with the score at 0-45.

But after weathering the early storm, Scott Meuleman (35) was trapped in front by debutant Grant Lambert (1-64) before Hussey and WA skipper Simon Katich combined for a 101-run partnership for the second wicket.

Hussey was just 14 runs short of a century when he hit a full toss back to spinner Mark Higgs (1-69).

The Warriors then handed back some of the advantage just before tea when Marcus North (7) was run out by Michael Clarke.

North was caught mid-pitch after Katich squeezed a ball to square leg where Clarke reacted sharply with a direct hit.

Katich (52) looked dumbfounded when he was given out caught behind off Nash's (1-49) bowling with the Blues given a sniff at 4-196.

But Campbell then came out and quickly changed the course of the game with his century coming off just 106 deliveries.

© 2002 AAP