Usman Khawaja went big then Mitch Marsh went bang in Sydney on day three of the final Ashes Test, putting Australia in the box seat for a 4-0 series win.
Khawaja's knock of 171 powered Australia to 4-479 at stumps on Saturday and a 133-run lead.
England trailed by 29 runs when legspinner Mason Crane, who could have had Khawaja out for 132 in the final over before lunch if replays didn't reveal a no-ball, finally snagged his maiden Test scalp.
But the tourists failed to kick on after Khawaja was out stumped, with Shaun Marsh and Mitch Marsh further sapping their spirit.
Shaun will resume on 98, while Mitch is 63 not out.
Most of the sold-out SCG crowd of 43,170 had high hopes Steve Smith would post a record-equalling fourth century of the series.
It now appears likely Sir Donald Bradman will remain the only Australian to do so in an Ashes series - at least until the 2019 contest.
Smith fell 17 runs short of three figures, offering a low return catch to Moeen Ali. The skipper may have a chance to bat in Australia's second innings but it is no certainty.
The hosts will want England to cook in the field amid 40C heat on Sunday, extending an innings that has already spanned 157 overs, while Nathan Lyon is already licking his lips at the state of the pitch.
"It was a pretty tough day ... there's going to be a few tired bodies," England keeper Jonny Bairstow said.
"It's going to be tough but at the same time there's no reason why we can't (handle Lyon) ... it's still a very good pitch.
"We had challenges when we faced (Ravichandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja in India. It won't be the first time we've played spin on a turning wicket."
Lyon told ABC Radio he was "rubbing his hands together" when he saw how much England's spinners turned the ball on day two.
Shaun Marsh successfully reviewed a caught-behind dismissal on 22 and is perfectly placed to peel off his second ton of the series, having thought his international career was over three months ago.
Mitch Marsh scored three runs from his first 30 balls then slapped tweakers Crane and Moeen all over the SCG, passing 50 in 64 deliveries.
The allrounder also put the Decision Review System to good use, successfully referring his lbw dismissal on 55.
The Marsh brothers' unbeaten partnership is already worth 104 runs, making it their highest stand for Australia.
Crane had his moments on debut but ultimately a series of half-shouts, no-ball angst and aborted run-ups amounted to 1-135 from 39 overs.
The low point came when ball-tracking replays suggested he trapped Khawaja lbw but the review was rescinded because the legspinner overstepped.
Crane and Stuart Broad argued the point with on-field umpire Kumar Dharmasena but it proved fruitless.
Khawaja and Smith combined in a 188-run stand, eight runs short of an Australian third-wicket record for the venue.
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