Tom Price took 3-27, including the crucial scalp of Ben Brown for nought, as Sussex bowled out Hampshire for 191 on day one at Hove.
Tom Haines was back among the wickets, too, including former Hove team-mate Ali Orr in his 2-17.
The stand-in skipper took two in the opening session of the Rothesay County Championship tussle at Hove.
That followed an important quickfire treble in the previous fixture, in which Glamorgan were beaten by an innings.
Sussex are having to look for their options with the ball in the absence of Ollie Robinson, Henry Crocombe and Fynn Hudson-Prentice.
Haines reduced Hampshire from 65-1 to 83-3 at lunch.
He clean bowled former Sussex batsman Orr, who played inside a ball which pitched and straightened and departed for just three.
Jake Lehmann looked very unhappy to be adjudged lbw to the same bowler for ten right on lunch.
Price had made the breakthrough with reward for a good opening spell as Toby Albert played on for 20.
Nick Gubbins, 47 not out at lunch, offered some backbone for Hampshire and had reached a patient 52 when he top-edged a pull shot off Price and saw John Simpson cling to a ball which came down with snow on it.
Two balls later, Price got movement from leg to off and clean bowled Brown, the former Sussex skipper who was averaging 42 this season and is usually so good in such backs-to-the-wall situations.
Delano Potgieter was caught at slip by Haines off Jack Carson (2-27) for one and Felix Organ had made 13 when he guided Dom Goodman (1-5) into the hands of Carson at gully.
Tom Prest was one short of a half century when he was deceived by a bit of extra pace from James Coles (1-19) and was bowled an there was a late wicket for Jaydev Unadkat (1-32).
Sussex's reply went smoothly until Potgieter pinned a clearly disappointed Dan Hughes for 19 with the score on 39 in only the eighth over.
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