Phil Hughes closed in on a hundred on his South Australia debut as his teammates crumbled around him at stumps on day two of the Sheffield Shield match against Queensland at the Gabba.

Former Test opener Hughes will resume on Wednesday on 95 not out as South Australia ended the day on 7-164, in response to Queensland's 398 all out.

In the wake of his dumping from the Australian team Hughes left NSW for South Australia this summer and the move has paid dividends immediately.

Displaying a tighter technique and buoyed confidence from good form for Derbyshire in English county cricket, the left-hander attacked the Bulls before tea hitting 63 off 69 deliveries, including 11 fours.

Then in the final session with South Australia already five wickets down, and Queensland bowling tight lines, he made steady progress, adding 32 off 75 balls to move towards three figures.

Hitting all around the ground, Hughes has looked as impressive as fellow Test hopeful Usman Khawaja did in scoring 88 on day one, though the Bulls' number three faced more difficult batting conditions.

"That's the best I've seen him bat for a number of years now," Queensland quick Ben Cutting said.

"He's certainly tightened up. He batted very well."

The only batsman to give Hughes support was Tim Ludeman (28) with whom he put on 58 for the sixth wicket, before the wicketkeeper fell to leg-spinner Cameron Boyce.

Alister McDermott (2-23) began the South Australian collapse dismissing opener Michael Klinger (1) and Tom Cooper (5), before skipper James Hopes (3-26) knocked over Callum Ferguson (11), Travis Head (4) and Nathan Lyon (1).

All-rounder Sam Miller had a debut first-class innings to forget, falling to Luke Feldman for one.

Earlier, Cutting recorded his maiden first-class hundred with a devastating display of hitting.

Coming to the wicket at 6-242, the fast bowler scored 109 off 78 balls including 12 fours and four sixes.

No bowler escaped punishment but he was particularly severe on Australia spin bowler Nathan Lyon whose consecutive overs went for 32 runs.

"It's just the way I bat, take my time early on and hope the runs come down the track," Cutting said.

"It came off today and it was a nice feeling."

The Redbacks even resorted to putting seven men on the boundary towards the end of the first session to stop Cutting reaching three figures, but he did so with a leg glance off Miller for two from the last ball before lunch.

"There were a few nerves when I got to the 80s and 90s," Cutting added.

"I didn't know what was going to happen - if we were going to declare at lunch."

From a score of 5-202 overnight, James Hopes (47), Chris Hartley (34) and Cameron Boyce (31) also helped lift the Bulls' first-innings total to a likely match-winning one.

Gary Putland was the pick of the Redbacks bowlers taking five for 100.