Brad Haddin fell for a duck and his New South Wales teammates fared little better to be bowled out for just 91 in the first innings of their Bupa Sheffield Shield fixture against WA on Friday.
After a solid start, the Blues lost their final nine wickets for just 31 runs - their worst collapse in nearly 80 years - as Nathan Rimmington and illness-plagued Nathan Coulter-Nile each claimed four scalps on day one at the WACA Ground.
And NSW's plight worsened when WA openers Liam Davis (33 not out) and Wes Robinson (15 not out) reached tea at 0-48 after just 12 overs at the crease, needing just 44 more runs for a first innings lead which would put the Warriors within two points of top spot.
Haddin failed to ease the pressure on his spot in Australia's Test team after a difficult summer as he was out for a four-ball duck, while Shane Watson made 21 in his long-awaited return to first-class cricket.
Watson hit several impressive drives and looked in good form on his way to 21 before he was dubiously given out lbw in his first innings back from a series of injuries which have kept him out of the Australian team throughout the summer.
Test aspirants Khawaja (15) and Phil Hughes (28) also missed out on the chance to impress as the visitors were bowled out for their 17th lowest Shield total - and their fourth worst since the turn of the millennium -despite winning the toss and choosing to bat.
Coulter-Nile, who had struggled so badly with an illness in the hours leading up to the match that his participation was in doubt, starred for the hosts with 4-20.
Rimmington (4-31) also toiled away early before picking up his reward after lunch and Michael Hogan took 2-29.
The only concern for WA was an injury to captain Marcus North, who was sent to see a hand specialist after injuring his finger attempting to take a catch before lunch.
The Warriors, who could move to the top of the table without an outright win, were expecting to know more about North's injury late on Friday afternoon but his pinkie finger injury on his right hand was a major worry.
The NSW batsmen had looked comfortable up until Khawaja was clean bowled the delivery before lunch, which sparked a dreadful collapse after the break.
Hughes and Haddin fell to Coulter-Nile in quick succession and the Blues were in disarray when they lost 4-0 in the space of 20 balls to slump to 8-85.
There were to be no tail-end heroics and WA quickly increased the visitors' pain in the field as Davis made a blistering start.
Stephen O'Keefe dropped an easy chance to dismiss Davis for 21 off Trent Copeland's bowling and it was the only opportunity the Warriors gifted before tea.
New South Wales 1st innings
Watson lbw Coulter-Nile 21
Hughes c Ronchi b Coulter-Nile 28
Khawaja b Hogan 15
Smith c Voges b Rimmington 19
Haddin c Voges b Coulter-Nile 0
Rohrer c Davis b Coulter-Nile 1
O'Keefe c Coulter-Nile b Hogan 4
Hauritz b Rimmington 0
Copeland c Voges b Rimmington 0
Lalor c Marsh b Rimmington 2
van der Gugten not out 0
Extras: 1 (0b, 1lb, 0nb, 0w)
Total: 91 (10 wickets; 44.2 overs)
FOW: 1-30, 2-60, 3-65, 4-69, 5-85, 6-85, 7-85, 8-85, 9-87, 10-91
Bowling
Rimmington 19 - 7 - 31 - 4
Hogan 12.2 - 5 - 29 - 2
Beer 4 - 1 - 10 - 0
Coulter-Nile 9 - 3 - 20 - 4
Western Australia 1st innings
Robinson not out 33
Davis not out 15
Extras: 0 (0b, 0lb, 0nb, 0w)
Total: 48 (0 wickets; 12 overs)
FOW:
Bowling
Copeland 6 - 1 - 24 - 0
Lalor 5 - 0 - 24 - 0
O'Keefe 1 - 1 - 0 - 0