Western Australia’s batsmen have fought hard on day three but are still facing a tough task to chase a daunting 357 to beat Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield match at the WACA Ground.

The Warriors are 6-223 at tea after the Tigers were all out for 242 in their second innings on the second ball of the day’s play to set the imposing target.

WA slumped to 3-37 early to look scarcely on target to beat their first-innings total of 97, but since then Mitch Marsh scored a fighting 51, Michael Hussey 44 and John Rogers 39.

Hussey’s score was his highest score in any form of cricket since his 115 not out in the first Test against Sri Lanka in December.

He has played his last two Tests, two Twenty20s for the Perth Scorchers, two Shield games and three one-day cup matches since then.

Mitch Marsh then went on to score just the second half-century of the match behind Ricky Ponting’s 76 in Tasmania’s second innings, but he fell just before tea in his first four-day match back from a serious hamstring injury.

However, when he was out WA was 6-203 and still requiring a further 134 runs to win with four wickets remaining.

WA’s hopes rest with youngster Sam Whiteman, who is not out on 45 while Ashton Agar is unbeaten on two at the other end.

James Faulkner has 3-30 with the ball for Tasmania and Ben Hilfenhaus 3-50 with the second new ball due in just 11 overs’ time.