Fire from Doug Bollinger and career-best figures from Sean Abbott gave NSW a chance of an outright Sheffield Shield victory over Tasmania on day three at Bellerive.

Inspired spells from the Blues pace duo began a Tigers collapse, the home side losing 7-29 to be scuttled for 164 in their second innings.

Needing 255 to win, NSW were 0-43 at stumps, after Nic Maddinson had a life on three, as they looked to claim a victory that seemed unlikely when they finished the first innings 90 behind.

Maddinson will resume on 17 with Ryan Carters 26.

The Blues entered the match against the Shield champs as ladder leaders and will maintain that position if they pull off a win.

Abbott took 4-36 and Bollinger 2-39 but it was the manner in which they went about their work on a pitch offering little assistance that impressed.

Having made the initial breakthrough to remove Jordan Silk (12), Bollinger produced a menacing spell after tea and bowled dangerman Tim Paine (1) with a superb inswinging yorker that ensured a collapse was imminent.

Abbott kept the pressure up at the other end, claiming his four scalps in the post-tea blitz to top his previous best of 3-60.

The pair were well supported by spinner Steve O’Keefe (2-31), who had earlier removed Test aspirants Ed Cowan (12) and Alex Doolan (17), and Gurinder Sandhu (2-24) who helped mop up the tail.

Tasmania had been in the box seat when they went to tea at 3-123 and eyeing a sizeable lead, but only opener Mark Cosgrove (81) passed 20 for the home side.

The Tigers had dismissed the Blues for 264 before lunch on Sunday in reply to their own total of 354.

Spinner Xavier Doherty claimed 3-37 and Evan Gulbis 3-78.

Trent Copeland top-scored for the Blues with 58.