SYDNEY - An intruder has been fatally stabbed while trying to rob a house in Sydney's south-west, Australia's New South Wales Police said on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old man allegedly broke into the house on Glassop Street at Yagoona about 3:15 pm (local time) on Tuesday while the 54-year-old resident was in a shed out the back.

The resident returned to the house from his back shed, and was allegedly threatened with an electronic stun gun.

Police said the pair struggled and the younger man was allegedly stabbed by the resident in the arm and chest before running to a getaway car.

The red Mitsubishi Lancer dropped the man off at Fairfield East, Sydney west, a short time later, when an ambulance was called to take him to Liverpool Hospital in south western Sydney.

The injured intruder underwent emergency surgery but died about 9:30 pm (local time) on Tuesday.

Police said the resident attended Bankstown Police Station in south-west Sydney but was yet to be formally interviewed.

Two other men have been questioned by police and released pending further inquiries.  

Strike Force ONeile, led by Bankstown Local Area Command with assistance of State Crime Command's Homicide Squad, has been established to investigate the case.