Australia’s bowlers are battling for results on the final day of the four-day practice match against Worcestershire at New Road.
The tourists have just one session remaining to take six wickets and win the match.
At tea, Worcestershire were 4-207, stubbornly holding on despite still needing 250 runs to win.
They were 3-136 at lunch.
Ashes hopefuls Ryan Harris and Jackson Bird were finding it a tough grind on a pretty lifeless pitch.
However, new coach Darren Lehmann has put a high premium on winning every match and the Australians will be pushing hard on the final afternoon.
Harris (1-42) took the only wicket of the middle session, while James Faulkner claimed two in the morning.
The tenacious Tasmanian left-armer has figures of 2-21 from 17 overs with eight maidens, to keep him in the frame for the first Test should Australia look to play a five-man bowling attack.
Bird (0-39) has gone wicketless so far after poaching four in the first innings.
Ashton Agar (1-71) made the first breakthrough late on day three, when he invited dumped England opener Nick Compton down the wicket and had him stumped.
In a positive sign for the Australians, Shane Watson is getting through his overs without pain.
Having the allrounder bowl in the Ashes would be a massive advantage.
Watson had the tidy figures of 0-13 from nine overs.
The Australians are desperate to win the match to continue their momentum into the first Test at Trent Bridge starting on Wednesday.
The batsman laid a good platform with Michael Clarke making a second innings 124 and Phil Hughes 86, to go with Watson’s 109 from the first dig.