Test opener Ed Cowan is leading Tasmania towards victory over Queensland on day four of the Sheffield Shield match at Bellerive.

Cowan is unbeaten on 44 at lunch, with the Tigers 2-98 chasing 161 to win.

With him is George Bailey on 25, the skipper returning to the game on Monday morning after he was on standby with the Australian squad in Brisbane.

Cowan has continued a rich vein of form, which included his side’s top score of 82 in the first innings and a superb century in the one-day win over the Bulls last week.

The Tigers lost opener Steven Cazzulino, caught behind off the bowling of Steve Magoffin (1-28), for nine to be 1-16.

They were 2-45 when Alex Doolan was also caught behind off a Ben Cutting (1-18) delivery for 13.

Queensland resumed on Monday morning at 9-201 and were all out for 215, Alister McDermott the last man dismissed when he was caught behind off the bowling of Luke Butterworth for seven.

Top scorer Cutting was not out 66, meaning he was unbeaten in making 145 for the match after his first innings 79no.

Butterworth finished with 4-45, while Jackson Bird took 3-71.

Queensland will drop to second on the ladder with a loss after Western Australia took top spot with their thrashing of NSW.

Shield holders Tasmania will jump to outright third, just two points behind the Bulls.