Western Australia are fighting hard in their second innings to avoid an outright defeat against Queensland after day three of the Sheffield Shield match at the WACA Ground.

Queensland took a 147-run lead on the first innings and then had WA in trouble at 2-46 in their second innings, but the Warriors knuckled down to finish the day 35 runs in front with seven wickets in hand.

Captain Adam Voges (90 not out) and Shaun Marsh (32no) ensured the home side could at least hope to avoid a loss, moving the Warriors to 3-182 by the close of play.

Queensland were all out 401 after lunch to take a first innings lead of 147.

That was in large part due to former WA batsman Luke Pomersbach who starred with 159 in his first match of the season.

The 29-year-old only came in as a late replacement for the injured Greg Moller but made the most of it – his runs coming from 281 deliveries and including 21 boundaries and two sixes.

Usman Khawaja (64) and captain James Hopes (50) chipped in for the Bulls, Michael Hogan best of the WA bowlers with 3-69.

The Bulls then made early inroads into WA’s top order.

Luke Towers, who came into the WA team to replace Marcus North following the death of his older brother in an accident on Friday, was out first ball he faced, caught behind by Chris Hartley off the bowling of Luke Feldman.

Then John Rogers’ sub-par form at No.3 continued when he aggressively went after Nathan Hauritz, only to be stumped by Hartley.

Struggling at 2-46, Voges entered the fray, cracking 13 boundaries in a well-paced knock.

Opener Cameron Bancroft did fall for 38 along the way when caught behind off Hopes at 3-117, but Voges’ and Marsh’s 65-run partnership set the Warriors up with some potential options for the final day.

Queensland skipper Hopes knows that early WA wickets on day four will be crucial to the Bulls’ chances of getting their first six points of the season, but he couldn’t be happier with the return in the match of Pomersbach.

“We thought it was a pretty good time to bring him back into the set up with the Big Bash coming up and we expect him to be a big part of the next six Shield games for us plus the Big Bash. I’m excited by his addition to our team and what he brings us.

“We were going to bat him three or four, but he jumped at the chance to open and he wanted to do it.

“He has a very solid technique against the new ball and he’s a good player of fast bowling so it’s probably a good spot for him.”