NSW batsman Kurtis Patterson won't fret over selection for a first Test cap after a promising start in the Sheffield Shield game against Victoria at the SCG.
Patterson top-scored in the Blues' first innings at the SCG with 55 before being trapped lbw.
It was Patterson's third score of 50 or more, including one century, in three Shield games this season.
The Australian team for the third Test against South Africa in Adelaide will be announced on Sunday, but Patterson doesn't expect to lose any sleep over his selection prospects.
"Whatever happens, happens," Patterson said on Saturday.
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"I certainly don't feel any pressure with that side of things at all."
However, Patterson isn't oblivious to or ignoring what the other batting contenders for a Test spot are doing,
"I'm a little bit of a cricket tragic in that way, whether I'm batting well or batting poorly, I like following the other games," Patterson said.
Another Test aspirant, Nic Maddinson, made just six in the Blues' first innings of 225, which left them with a 285-run first-innings deficit.
Patterson and Maddinson could get one more chance to impress on Sunday, with NSW facing an uphill task on the final day.
Set 391, the Blues finished at 1-39 on Saturday, requiring another 352 to win, with Daniel Hughes on 17 and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon on two.
Test opener David Warner was dismissed for 20 with less than three overs to go when he bottom-edged a Chris Tremain delivery on to his stumps.
Tall right-arm paceman Tremain, who played a handful of first-class matches for the Blues before moving south, took 4-22 from 18 overs in the Blues' first innings.
Australian one-day international representative Tremain bowled nine straight maidens across his past two spells.
Getting the ball to reverse swing, Tremain proved a handful on a wearing wicket which already has some cracks.
"I think tomorrow if we get the balls in the right spots over and over again then I think we're in with a good chance and I think it will be a lot more difficult,' Tremain said.
Bushrangers captain Matthew Wade opted against forcing NSW to follow on.
Victoria batted for 23 overs and 98 minutes, declaring at 2-105 after tea.
Marcus Harris scored an unbeaten 62 off 67 balls, striking 10 fours.
Test aspirant Glenn Maxwell suffered his second single-digit dismissal of the game.
Spinner Steve O'Keefe took 2-6 off three overs.
Fellow slow bowler Lyon went wicketless for a fourth straight innings, stretching his drought to 97 overs since his last victim and then copped a blow on the arm from Tremain in the final over of the day.
