Champion leg-spinner Shane Warne blew out the cobwebs, but he couldn't prevent Western Australia from dominating the opening day of the Pura Cup clash with Victoria at the WACA Ground on Sunday.

Warne's Ashes preparation got off to a tough start when he claimed just one wicket on another testing day at a ground where he has often struggled.

However, his modest figures of 1-78 from 19 overs weren't reflective of a lack of effort and it was for the most part a typically probing performance on a placid wicket that offered its share of early, but slow turn.

The Test superstar enjoyed a particularly intriguing and extended tussle with WA opener Chris Rogers after lunch as he attempted to find a way through the left-hander's determined defence.

However, it was Rogers that ultimately prevailed, with an unbeaten century as bat dominated ball and the home side put itself in a commanding position after captain Justin Langer won the toss and elected to bat.

At stumps on the first day, the Warriors were 2-359 with Rogers on 184 and on the verge of his best score for the Warriors, and Marcus North on 103.

Langer missed the chance for some batting practice when he made just 25, but he passed 8000 Sheffield Shield-Pura Cup runs in the process.

Warne wasn't seen until just before lunch and his first over went for seven runs, but he had a confident lbw appeal against Rogers turned down in his next over, the last before the break.

The period between lunch and tea saw the champion spinner turn up the pressure, with Bushrangers captain Cameron White setting aggressive fields that crowded the WA batsmen.

Warne bowled unchanged from the northern end for 95 minutes and gained considerable turn at a ground where he has generally struggled, with just 50 wickets in 17 previous first-class games.

Rogers and Warriors No. 3 Shaun Marsh built a handy second-wicket partnership, but Warne clearly had the latter a little unsettled.

As he so often does Marsh lost some of his fluency after a polished start and he succumbed to the Warne pressure when he was trapped lbw for 37.

Warne's extended post-lunch spell returned 1-39 from 12 overs and included a couple of typically ebullient lbw appeals that were turned down.

While Warne attempted to slow the brisk early scoring by WA, Rogers cruised towards a fine century.

His innings wasn't totally without drama, nearly playing on when he was 52 and David Hussey dropping what would have been a spectacular catch from the bowling of Shane Harwood when Rogers was on 75.

However, Rogers looked in good touch from the opening over, producing some lovely drives and slashing Gerard Denton over point for a four in the penultimate over before tea to bring up his 12th first-class century for WA in 239 minutes, from 169 balls, and with 16 boundaries.

North and Rogers combined for an unbroken stand of 231, with the former bringing up his century just minutes before stumps with his 18th boundary.

North has been at the crease for 212 minutes and faced 164 balls.

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