Kevin Innes was determined to leave an impression on the match before stepping aside for James Kirtley after his hopes of making his Test debut were shattered.
Kirtley is set to replace Innes, but together with wicketkeeper Matt Prior, the all-rounder launched an entertaining assualt on the Nottinghamshire bowlers as Sussex claimed maximum batting points for the first time this season.
Prior was quickly into his stride, driving Notts' captain Jason Gallian through extra cover in the first over of the second day before an even more impressive shot, a perfectly-timed straight drive off Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, brought him another four.
Prior and Tim Ambrose had put on 66 for the sixth wicket when Ambrose fell shortly after completing his third half-century of the season off 111 balls with five fours.
Steve Elworthy made the breakthrough when he had Ambrose caught behind fencing at a delivery which bounced awkwardly.
It was a rare moment of relief for Nottinghamshire whose seamers were still struggling to bowl the right lengths on the slow pitch today.
Prior cover-drove Greg Smith for four to bring up Sussex's 400 before reaching his 50 with another boundary, his eighth, shortly afterwards.
Innes then started to free his arms, lofting MacGill for a straight six which bounced just short of the tennis courts at the Town End.
Smith switched ends but got little joy as Prior collected three successive boundaries off the South African.
Sussex: 468 for 6 (115 overs)
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