Queensland's crucial JLT Sheffield Shield encounter against second-placed NSW at the Gabba remains delicately poised after an opening day dominated by bowlers.

The home side lost key wickets at either end of the final session to be 4-67 at stumps, having earlier skittled NSW for 150 on the back of a Luke Feldman five-wicket haul.

Opener Joe Burns (28) and Charlie Hemphrey (29 not out) steadied the ship before the former fell in the final minutes of play, with Sam Heazlett (4) following almost immediately.

The pair put on 47 after the early loss of Matt Renshaw (3), who fell to a brilliant close-range Jason Sangha catch, and Marnus Labuschagne (0).

Needing a win to stay in touch with NSW, Queensland elected to bowl first in overcast and swinging conditions which prevailed throughout most of the day.

Fast bowler Feldman was a perennial threat in collecting his eighth first class five-wicket haul to end with 5-20 from 11 tight overs.

Feldman sent Daniel Hughes (7) and recent Test cap Kurtis Patterson (7) back to the pavilion following two early rain breaks as NSW reached 3-64 at lunch.

The Blues lost 5-32 at one stage during the middle session before fast bowler Trent Copeland swung the bat down the order for a quickfire 28, leaving Nick Larkin (31) and Jack Edwards (22) as the only other batters to pass 20.

Queensland's seam quartet shared the spoils with Michael Neser claiming 2-41, Mark Steketee 2-48 and Billy Stanlake 1-34 in his first Shield match for over three years.

Defeat for Queensland would all but end their Shield campaign with two more rounds to play.

QLD XI: Matthew Renshaw, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Charlie Hemphrey, Sam Heazlett, Nathan McSweeney, Jimmy Peirson (c/wk), Michael Neser, Mark Steketee, Luke Feldman, Billy Stanlake

NSW XI: Nick Larkin, Daniel Hughes, Kurtis Patterson, Moises Henriques, Jason Sangha, Peter Nevill (c/wk), Jack Edwards, Steve O'Keefe, Trent Copeland, Sean Abbott, Harry Conway