A marathon century from youngster Jordan Silk anchored Tasmania’s 4-252 at lunch on day two of the Sheffield Shield final against Queensland at Bellerive.
Silk batted for more than seven-and-a-half hours for his 108 from 358 balls as the Tigers added 76 after resuming at 2-176.
The 20-year-old opener hit 11 fours in notching his second straight Shield ton in just his third, and most important, match.
He was out at 4-240 when he top-edged Michael Neser (2-56) to Luke Pomersbach at deep backward square leg.
The Tigers had already lost Ricky Ponting for 35 at 3-199 when Queensland skipper James Hopes (1-47) got a ball to straighten beautifully and trap the former Test captain in front.
At the break, Tasmanian captain George Bailey was unbeaten on 29 with Jonathan Wells four.
The home side marginally picked up the scoring rate against the Bulls’ accurate attack after a first day go-slow on a dry pitch described as “disgraceful” by visiting coach Darren Lehmann.
Needing only a draw to secure the title, they will be desperate to avoid any kind of collapse with less than 300 on the board as they look to grind Queensland out of the five-day game.
Morning showers forecast for Hobart stayed away with better weather predicted for the remainder of the decider.