ADELAIDE, Dec 21 AAP - Western Australia will be hoping Beau Casson can repeat his first innings wicket blitz tomorrow and guide the Warriors to outright points against South Australia at Adelaide Oval.

SA skipper Greg Blewett and opener David Fitzgerald offered their team some hope of saving the game when they put on an unbroken 111-run partnership in today's final session.

The Redbacks were 1-118 in their second innings at stumps on day three of the Pura Cup match.

But the home side was still in a precarious position, needing another 176 runs tomorrow to make WA bat again, after trailing by 294 on the first innings.

Fitzgerald, SA's top-scorer in the first innings with 63, was unbeaten on 64 at the close of play, with skipper Blewett on 53, after being dropped when on 41.

Shane Deitz was the batsman out, stumped for a duck on the last ball before tea off the bowling of 19-year-old left arm spinner Casson.

The youngster took 6-64 in the first innings in just his second first-class match.

Earlier, WA's Murray Goodwin ensured his side was firmly in the box seat with an innings of 164 to help the Warriors to 9(dec)-520 in their first innings, in reply to SA's first innings 226.

Goodwin's marathon effort in searing heat lasted one minute less than eight hours.

He was involved in a 247-run second-wicket partnership yesterday with WA skipper Justin Langer, who was equal top-scorer with 164, and a 149-run third-wicket stand with Mike Hussey today.

"It wasn't exactly a pretty innings, but I suppose it kept the Redbacks out there for a long time, which is pleasing for us," Goodwin told AAP.

"It wasn't easy to bat on that wicket, or it wasn't easy to score, put it that way."

Goodwin said there was still not much assistance in the pitch for the fast bowlers, but Casson was likely to play a vital role tomorrow.

"We're a little bit thin on the spin bowling side, we've only really got one spinner, so he's obviously got to play a part," Goodwin said.

"Our pace bowlers, if they can keep it quite tight, who knows?"

Goodwin said he felt WA was a strong chance of taking full points, despite Blewett and Fitzgerald's solid resistance so far.

"Adelaide Oval, once you get a couple of wickets you can get on a roll, so it's going to be interesting," he said.

"I fancy our chances, I think we got 10 wickets on the first day and I don't see why we can't get nine on the last day when the wicket's a little bit harder to bat on."

© 2002 AAP

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.