South Australia will be relying on new recruit Phil Hughes on the final day of their Sheffield Shield match against Queensland after being set a massive victory target.

Chasing an unlikely 463 to win, Hughes ended day three unbeaten on 58 to take the Redbacks to 2-111 in their second innings at the Gabba.

It was the opener’s second half-century of the match after being dismissed in the first over of the day for 95.

Looking as composed as he was during his first-innings knock, the left-hander was untroubled by the Queensland pace attack to further suggest the work spent refining his technique over the off-season has borne fruit.

Callum Ferguson is with Hughes at the crease on 31 not out.

Michael Klinger (six) and Tom Cooper (11) were the two Redbacks second innings wickets to fall, both caught behind by Chris Hartley off the bowling of James Hopes (1-10) and Ben Cutting (1-19) respectively.

Earlier, Hartley’s seventh first-class century saved the Bulls from a precarious position.

Coming to the wicket after lunch with the score at 5-64, the wicketkeeper hit his second successive ton at Shield level following his hundred in last season’s final against Tasmania.

Hopes (42) and Cutting (33) also made solid contributions before the Bulls prompted an early tea by declaring on 8-248 after Hartley hit Joe Mennie for four to take him to 103.

South Australia’s inexperienced bowling attack had opened up the game in the first session

Chadd Sayers (3-66) bowled opener Andrew Robinson for a duck and later took the wickets of Peter Forrest (five), caught at slip by Cooper, and Joe Burns (0), leg before, in consecutive deliveries.

Usman Khawaja (20) nicked behind to Mennie (3-74) after looking in good touch early on and the same bowler dismissed Wade Townsend (21) on the stroke of lunch.

Nathan Lyon continued his disappointing performance to end with match figures of 2-128 from 27 overs as he looks to be selected for the first Test against South Africa in Brisbane on November 9.

After resuming on 7-164, the Redbacks’ first innings only lasted 9.1 overs on Wednesday as they collapsed to 184 all out.

Hughes fell without adding to his overnight score, nudging the second ball of the day from Hopes to Forrest at first slip. Hopes ended the innings with figures of 5-27.