Queensland's batsmen crashed to a record low before a tearaway teen burst South Australia's bubble in their bid for a first Sheffield Shield title in 29 years.

The Bulls, losing 5-7 in a top-order collapse spanning 34 balls on Wednesday's opening day of the shield final in Adelaide, were all out for a meagre 95.

SA reached 6-158 at stumps with 19-year-old express quick Callum Vidler snaring 4-33 in just his third first-class game.

Vidler revived Queensland after they posted the smallest first innings score of any shield final - the previous low was the Bulls' 102 against NSW in 2004/05.

Former Queenslander Brendan Doggett starred for SA, taking 6-31 to justify the surprise decision of captain Nathan McSweeney to bowl after winning the toss at Karen Rolton Oval.

Doggett's final ball for Queensland was the match-winning wicket in the Bulls' last shield final win in 2020/21. And for SA in this final, he struck with his first delivery.

"It's a pretty cool start, on a shield final hat-trick," Doggett said.

"The game is obviously in fast-forward at the moment ... but it was good to get the ball rolling with a few wickets."

Test mainstays Usman Khawaja (two) and Marnus Labuschagne (duck) were among the casualties.

Khawaja was dropped twice before top-edging an attempted hook shot off Doggett and being caught at fine leg.

Labuschagne inexplicably fell for a leg-side trap in the next over.

Facing Nathan McAndrew (2-22), the Australian No.3 - who two deliveries earlier watched a ball roll from his pads onto leg stump without dislodging a bail - flicked to leg gully where Jake Lehmann took the catch.

Next ball, Jack Clayton pushed defensively and set off for a run only to be sent back - cover fielder Liam Scott swooped, threw down the stumps and the Bull was run out.

The carnage continued in the next over when Angus Lovell (eight) edged a Doggett delivery and, just 19 balls later, Ben McDermott (four) joined the list of batting failures as Queensland lost 5-7 in 34 balls.

After being 5-64 at lunch, Doggett then took four of the next five wickets including stalwarts Jimmy Peirson (13) and Michael Neser, who top-scored with 34.

In reply, the impressive Vidler removed SA opener Henry Hunt and skipper McSweeney for ducks, both caught behind the wicket.

SA wobbled to 4-65 before Alex Carey (24) and Lehmann put on a brisk 39-run stand.

But Vidler was summoned again and claimed the prized wicket of Carey, who chopped onto his stumps from an attempted pull shot, and, two overs later the paceman dismissed Liam Scott (six).

"Showing some pretty raw pace, it's really exciting for us to see," Bulls veteran Jimmy Peirson said of Vidler.

"And it's exciting to see for Cricket Australia as well, seeing someone like that coming through, bowling that sort of pace.

"The game is alive and well. Finals are a funny thing, sometimes you just get a sniff and good Queensland teams have done that for years."

Lehmann was unbeaten on 42 and featured in a late flurry with Ben Manenti (36no) for an unbroken 63-run partnership.

The South Australians are seeking to collect the state's first shield since 1995/96 while chasing an historic double: winning the red-ball and one-day competitions in the same season for the first time.

SA defeated Victoria in the 50-over final on March 1.