Jackson Bird took three wickets as Tasmania roared back into contention on day three of their day-night Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria at the MCG.
But their comeback may be shortlived, with the visitors slumping to 3-19 at stumps on Thursday and requiring 346 runs to win.
Tasmania sent in nightwatchman Andrew Fekete, who is yet to score, to bat alongside opener Caleb Jewell (10 not out) in the final over after losing three wickets in quick succession.
Victoria's declaration followed a remarkable batting collapse in the evening session, with the hosts losing seven wickets after heading to dinner at 2-93.
With a spot in the Australian side for next week's first Test against South Africa up for grabs, Bird claimed 3-59 to take his tally for the match to six wickets.
The 195cm seamer dismissed Cameron White and Dan Christian cheaply in consecutive overs but was left red-faced when he dropped a sitter from Victoria tailender Chris Tremain while fielding in the deep.
Bird's 13-over spell wasn't as tight as his first innings performance but delivered crucial wickets and will surely have caught the eye of Test selectors, who are weighing up whether to pick him or Victoria's Peter Siddle as the third seamer behind Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Siddle, making his return to first-class cricket after suffering a stress fracture in his back in February, bowled just seven overs for the day in line with a plan to manage his workload ahead of the Test series.
The veteran had Beau Webster trapped LBW for a golden duck to finish with 1-4 off four overs in the second innings, having taken 1-18 in the first.
Victoria's evening session collapse started with James Faulkner taking two wickets in as many overs, including that of Marcus Harris who was trapped LBW on 77.
Harris, playing his first game for Victoria since defecting from Western Australia, was again the Bushrangers' top scorer after making a ton in the first innings.
Part-time offspinner Webster took 3-25 while Faulkner finished with 2-26.
Tasmania were earlier bowled out for 255, with allrounder Christian claiming 4-35 off 20.3 overs.
Christian's haul included the scalp of danger man George Bailey, whose promising knock ended in disappointment when he was caught behind off an ill-judged shot for 64.
Bailey's patient half-century was crucial for the visitors, who had resumed their first innings on Thursday at 4-93.
"We knew tonight was going to be a difficult period for them," Christian said.
"We always wanted to try and put the foot down a bit with the bat so we could have a few overs at them.
"We weren't expecting three wickets, that's for sure, but we certainly knew we were going to be able to create some chances."
