Demotion from the West Australian team earlier in the season was the catalyst for a career-best eight wicket haul by unheralded swing bowler Steve Magoffin that allowed the Warriors to snatch first innings points in the vital Pura Cup clash at the WACA Ground.

Magoffin, who has styled his bowling on Australian champion Glenn McGrath, claimed 8-47 as the home side secured two valuable first innings points by just three runs.

It was just the former Queenslander's second five-wicket haul and just the fifth time a WA bowler had taken eight or more wickets in an innings in the domestic first-class competition.

The figures were also the second best by WA bowler in the Sheffield Shield-Pura Cup, eclipsed only by Ian Brayshaw's famous 10-44.

Magoffin was dropped after some disappointing early season form, but has been in fine touch in WA's last three Pura Cup games and said a confidence-boosting stint in grade cricket had been the turning point.

"I've been pretty happy with how I have bowled since I got back in the side at Christmas time," he said.

"With bowling you can get on a bit of a roll with your wickets.

"I went back to club cricket, batsmen started getting a few nicks and things started going my way a bit more.

"My confidence was up and the last two games in Tasmania and Sydney I took a lot of confidence out of them."

Magoffin also said addition of an outswinger to his repertoire, after a meeting with Sri Lanka coach and former WA captain Tom Moody, had enhanced his bowling greatly.

He admitted it was clearly his best day with the ball.

"Not even in the backyard mate," he said when asked if he had ever taken eight wickets before.

Magoffin claimed wickets in all four of his spells, his longest stint at the crease on a hot Perth day just five overs.

He was happy to be used in short spells, allowing for more aggression.

"I normally bowl longer spells," he said.

"I am generally used more as a stock bowler.

"But the conditions and the condition of the wicket meant we wanted to change our bowlers around a little bit."

The home side claimed first innings points by just three runs, dismissing South Australia for 405 in reply to WA's 9-408.

South Australia gave itself a slim chance of forcing an outright result when Darren Lehmann had Justin Langer (42) caught from the final ball of the day, leaving WA 3-85 at stumps, with night watchman Beau Casson on one.

It was Magoffin's day and he fittingly claimed the final South Australian first innings wicket as 10th-wicket pair Paul Rofe and Daniel Cullen threatened to snatch the points with a stubborn partnership.

The two points lifted WA to third on the Pura Cup table on 22 points, just two behind third-placed Victoria, while SA remained on 20, with the match seemingly destined to end in a draw after the defensive tactics of both sides.

The Warriors face the Bushrangers at Junction Oval in their last game, while the Redbacks host New South Wales.

Magoffin's first five over spell of the day yielded 3-7, including the crucial wickets of Lehmann (82) and Mark Cosgrove (4).

His second spell, which lasted four overs, netted 2-10 as he removed Callum Ferguson (54) and Cameron Borgas (22) just when SA was fighting back.

In his third spell, Magoffin again bowled just four overs, taking his seventh wicket when he had Shaun Tait caught behind for 27.

With only one more wicket needed and Magoffin within reach of a rare eight wicket haul, Langer elected to again rest his best bowler and almost paid the price.

With just five more runs needed by Cullen and Rofe, Magoffin returned to the attack, having Cullen caught behind by a diving Luke Ronchi from the fifth ball of his over.

Magoffin had claimed 7-26 from 13.5 overs for the day.

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