Victoria have declared at 4-356 in their second innings at tea on Saturday, setting NSW a target of 240 on the final day to win their Sheffield Shield clash.
The Blues are scheduled to face a minimum of 34 overs in the final session at the MCG.
Test opener Chris Rogers backed up his first-innings 88 with another fine knock of 117.
Peter Handscomb (94) and Cameron White (70 not out) hit half-centuries against a NSW attack depleted by the absence of pace spearhead Doug Bollinger (1-37), who didn’t bowl on Saturday because of an abdominal injury.
Rogers, whose formidable levels of concentration have helped him to bat for nine-and-a-half hours in the match, struck 10 fours and one six from 235 deliveries in his 117 after resuming on 96.
Handscomb added 127 for the third wicket with White before left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe (2-51) removed Handscomb lbw and Aaron Finch (0) bowled in consecutive deliveries with the total on 340.
The 22-year-old Handscomb fell six runs short of his second first-class hundred.
It was the second time in the match Finch had been bowled first ball, after returning to the Bushrangers’ line-up following Australia’s recent one-day international series in India.
The limited-overs international opener is now in danger of being axed for Victoria’s clash with Tasmania in Hobart starting on November 13.