Swing bowler Callum Thorp and some clumsy footwork from Tasmanian opener Scott Mason combined to put Western Australia on track for its first Pura Cup win of the summer.

The Tigers battled their way back into the contest in the first two sessions at the WACA Ground after being mauled on day one.

But in reply to WA's first dig of 437, Tasmania slumped from 1-95 to be 6-216 at stumps with Damien Wright (38no) and Sean Clingeleffer (15no) at the crease after Mason trod his stumps.

The 27-year-old dislodged a bail after stepping onto his wicket attempting to pull a Brad Williams (2-75) delivery to hand the under-performing WA attack some much-needed heart.

The innings turned almost immediately with Williams, who has been named in the 12-man Australian Test squad for the second match against India starting Friday in Adelaide, removing the dangerous Michael Di Venuto (4) two balls later.

Mason's wicket was the second piece of good fortune for the blond speedster after national selectors kept faith in him despite lashing out at them for dumping him from the starting XI for the Gabba Test.

However it was his unheralded teammate Callum Thorp (3-39) who delivered the major blows by claiming the scalps of Shane Watson (26) and Michael Dighton (21) after earlier removing Jamie Cox (25).

Thorp relished bowling into a stiff afternoon breeze as the Pura Cup leaders unravelled in the final session against the bottom-placed Warriors.

Stand-in captain Michael Hussey sensed the tide was turning and the introduction of wrist-spinner Brad Hogg paid immediate dividends as he deceived in-form Tasmanian skipper Daniel Marsh (32).

Wright and Clingeleffer's first target on Tuesday will be reaching 288 to avoid the follow-on.

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