David Warner and Michael Clarke both hit centuries as Australia recovered from the loss of three quick wickets to reach 280/4 at tea on day one of the second Test against South Africa in Adelaide.
The hosts were just 55/3 when Jacques Kallis dismissed Ricky Ponting (4) in the eighth over.
Kallis had earlier taken the wicket of Ed Cowan (10), before Steven Smith caught Rob Quiney for a duck off the bowling of Morne Morkel.
However, the tide quickly turned when Kallis limped off with a thigh injury.
Warner (119) and Clarke (104 not out) steadied the ship until lunch, before unleashing a ruthless assault on South Africa's poor attack in the afternoon.
When Warner eventually fell, edging Morkel to Smith to halt the partnership at 155, Mike Hussey (34 not out) helped maintain the hosts' impressive run rate.