South Australia remain in the hunt for their first Sheffield Shield win of the season, requiring another 66 runs to beat Victoria at the MCG with four wickets in hand.

Chasing 302 for victory, the Redbacks have reached 6-236 at tea on day three with Travis Head unbeaten on 40 and Chadd Sayers on 20.

Defeat would be a cruel blow to fourth-placed Victoria’s pride and their hopes of qualifying for the Shield final.

Callum Ferguson (71) and Tom Cooper (62) shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 134 but both fell to Test quick Peter Siddle (4-38) shortly after lunch.

South Australia resumed on 3-55 and added 93 runs without loss in the pre-lunch session.

However Siddle struck in the second over after the interval, trapping Cooper lbw.

Cooper’s three-hour knock included nine fours and took his season’s tally to 682 runs at 48.71, trailing only Victoria’s Rob Quiney (750 at 50.00).

Ferguson failed to take responsibility for guiding the Redbacks home, playing a loose cut shot outside off stump to be caught behind after hitting eight fours from 162 deliveries.

Jayde Herrick (2-67) bowled Adam Crosthwaite (16) at 6-193, but the Redbacks reached tea without further loss.

Victoria’s last hope could be the second new ball which is due shortly after the interval.

Nineteen wickets tumbled on Tuesday’s second day of play, when Victoria were rolled for 181.

Chadd Sayers, a 24-year-old seamer playing in his third first-class game, took 5-57.

Victoria medium-pacer Andrew McDonald (5-21) also claimed a five-wicket haul on Tuesday as South Australia collapsed for 100 in reply to Victoria’s first innings of 220.