Test opener Chris Rogers has scored twin half-centuries in Victoria’s Sheffield Shield match against NSW to continue his strong build-up to the first Ashes Test.

Rogers was unbeaten on 75 with Rob Quiney on 52 when rain interrupted play 27 minutes after lunch on day three at the MCG with Victoria 0-130 in their second innings.

Rain continues to fall at the tea break, casting doubt over the prospect of more play on Friday.

The Bushrangers hold an overall lead of 13 runs against NSW, who established a 117-run advantage on the first innings after being bowled out for 353 at stumps on Thursday.

After NSW’s Test batsmen Steve Smith (107), David Warner (104) and Michael Clarke (43) spent some valuable time in the middle on Thursday, Rogers added to his first-innings 88 with another well-compiled knock of 75.

The left-hander had a lucky escape on 67 when he played a short ball onto his stumps from the bowling of paceman Gurinder Sandhu.

But Rogers, who has been mentored by former Test No.3 Dean Jones on his footwork to the spinners, showed a willingness to sweep and also hit down the ground as he thumped a six over long-on off the bowling of spinner Steve O’Keefe (0-18).

Test offspinner Nathan Lyon has 0-44 off 17 overs after a two-wicket haul in the first innings.

Lyon is facing competition from uncapped Victoria leggie Fawad Ahmed for an Ashes spot, although Ahmed was unconvincing in the Blues’ first innings with 1-91 from 21 overs.

Rogers struck five fours and one six while Quiney, who was thumped on the helmet by a bouncer from Doug Bollinger in the seventh over of the day, has struck eight boundaries.

Cricket Australia is scheduled to name a squad on Tuesday for the first Ashes Test against England in Brisbane starting on November 21.