The 31-year-old's 100 off 134 balls, which included nine fours and four sixes, pushed the Tigers' first innings to 254.

Milenko came to the crease on Saturday with his team wobbling at 5-121, but farmed the strike with the tail and scored 100 of Tasmania's last 133 runs.

He shared a 57-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Gabe Bell (six) before being bowled by the part-time spin of Will Bosisto.

"It was mostly relief, to be perfectly honest," Milenko said of the milestone, which came after 10 fifties across 26 first-class matches.

Milenko hit a French-cut boundary to reach 99 before picking up a single.

"It's good be able to go all the way and get us to up to a total that's a little more competitive on a reasonably good wicket," he said.

"It all happened fairly quickly. When you're picking up those boundaries, the scoreboard ticks over."

Quick Joe Mennie (3-76) did the damage at the top of the order and was ably supported by Wes Agar (3-68) after the Redbacks won the toss and sent the hosts in.

Openers Jake Weatherald and Henry Hunt negotiated half-an-hour to reach 0-26 at stumps.

Milenko was one of two changes for the fourth-placed Tigers after last week's thrashing inside two days by Queensland.

While he was able to free the arms, veteran and soon-to-be national selector George Bailey managed just seven in his final first-class match before retirement in February.

Opener Alex Doolan was the second-highest scorer with 37.

The Tigers blunted the new ball to reach 1-60 at lunch but lost four wickets in the middle session.

South Australia, who handed a first-class debut to offspinning allrounder Daniel Drew, are winless after five matches and ahead of only Victoria on the ladder.

Australian Associated Press