Out-of-sorts Test allrounder Mitch Marsh's luck may be turning but Western Australia are still in trouble at stumps on day two of their JLT Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland in Brisbane.

Marsh found welcome form with the bat to be 64 not out but could not stop the Warriors limping to 5-159 on Sunday, well behind the Bulls' daunting first innings of 9(dec)-448 at Allan Border Field.

Marsh looked like he couldn't take a trick on Sunday after Bulls skipper James Peirson and Michael Neser were dropped off his bowling before the pair piled on a crucial 115 runs for the seventh wicket.

Peirson was 82 not out when he made the declaration call after hard hitting allrounder Neser made 56.

Marsh then watched helplessly as the Warriors stumbled in their run chase by losing five wickets, including nightwatchman David Moody for one just before stumps.

Marsh did his best to launch a recovery with a 112-run fourth wicket stand with Ashton Turner (48).

Bulls leggie and former Australian T20 player Mitch Swepson (1-26) had an intriguing battle with Marsh and looked forward to round two on Monday.

"He's obviously a quality batter and showed it today. At the moment, we are finding it difficult to get him out," said Swepson.

"He hits the ball so hard; he is hard to set fields for because he can pick any gap.

"But I love a challenge and you want to get their best players out. I am loving it."

Marsh had been looking for some form ahead of the Test series against India starting next month after a poor run against Pakistan in UAE and being overlooked for national one-day duties.

But at first his fortunes don't look like changing in Brisbane.

With 0-66 off 23 overs he cut a frustrated figure after first slip Ashton Turner - usually the safest of hands - dropped Peirson on 24 before he put down Neser on four.

Queensland resumed on Sunday at 4-269.

Earlier, WA's Matthew Kelly took 3-80 and fellow quick Jhye Richardson 2-55.

First-day honours went to opener Matthew Renshaw, who compiled a classy 89 while Charlie Hemphrey was dismissed for 72 on Sunday.

Queensland: Matthew Renshaw, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Charlie Hemphrey, Sam Heazlett, Jack Wildermuth, Jimmy Peirson (c/wk), Michael Neser, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Brendan Doggett

Western Australia: Jonathan Wells, Josh Philippe, Hilton Cartwright, Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Turner, William Bosisto, Josh Inglis (wk), Jhye Richardson, Matthew Kelly, Usman Qadir, David Moody