Batsman Travis Head continued to impress as he pushes for a Test cricket recall, scoring 163 for South Australia against Western Australia in a high-scoring Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide.

Head's impressive 215-ball knock, which included 18 fours and three sixes, helped South Australia to a 27-run first innings lead at Karen Rolton Oval on Sunday.

A last-wicket stand of 74 either side of tea between Nathan McAndrew (65 not out) and Lloyd Pope (12), highest first-class scores for both men, lifted SA to 492.

By stumps on day three, WA were 1-76, a lead of 49, with little likelihood of an outright result given only 20 wickets have fallen on a flat pitch.

SA skipper Head has scored 601 Shield runs from seven innings at an average of 85 since being dropped from the Australia team following the 2020 Boxing Day Test against India.

Australian men's team chief selector George Bailey was at the ground to see the attacking left-hander's classy century.

While former captain Steve Smith and youngster Cameron Green ,who scored a hundred for WA on Friday, are well placed to retain middle order Test places, Head could push for the No.5 spot he lost, where Matthew Wade scored 62 runs from four innings.

Head added 231 for the third wicket with fellow left hander and former WA player Jake Carder (118 off 237), whose maiden first-class century included 15 fours.

"It was great to have Trav out there for my first hundred," Carder said.

"There is a bit of a comfort factor against your old team but also it racks up the nerves a bit.

"There was little bit of chat but it wasn't too bad, I kind of expected that.

"Hopefully they set us a target and we can have a dip at it, but the ball is in their court at the moment."

Cameron Bancroft (27) was caught behind off spinner Pope, but Sam Whiteman (35) and WA captain Shaun Marsh (13) batted out the remainder of the day.

SA were 3-372 following a brisk fourth wicket stand of 73 off 13 overs between Head and Alex Carey (37 off 45), but lost 6-46 with a short pitched barrage from Errol Morris (3-91) triggering the collapse.

It took Pope 32 balls to get off the mark, but last pair stayed together for 17 overs with McAndrew hitting seven fours and two sixes in a record 10 wicket partnership for SA against WA.

Morris and fellow quick Joel Paris (3-73 ) were the main wicket-takers for WA.

"On a wicket that's not doing a whole lot you have to get a decent lead, so we'll see where we're at tomorrow," Morris said.