There may be three rounds of the Sheffield Shield to go but NSW could come close to securing a spot in the final with a win over Western Australia in their match starting on Wednesday.
The Blues have surged into championship contention following a hat-trick of wins, going from second last to top spot in the space of three games.
Following innings-plus defeats of Queensland and Tasmania, they jumped Western Australia into the ladder lead last round after Nathan Lyon and Steven O'Keefe spun them to victory against Victoria.
And they will have a chance to extend their advantage when they take on the Warriors in Newcastle.
With three rounds to play, a win would go a long way to ensuring them a top two finish, especially with Victoria (third) and Queensland (fourth) facing off in Alice Springs this week.
"It is a crucial game. We play these guys (WA) two times in the next three games leading into the finals," NSW captain Moises Henriques said.
"Both teams control their own destinies there."
The Blues will head into the game with the luxury of the same line-up as the previous two games with Nick Larkin to again carry the drinks.
The Warriors will be hurting after narrowly drawing with South Australia last week, a result which denied them the chance to hold onto top position.
Western Australia fell three runs short of the Redbacks' total after Shaun Marsh failed to hit a four on the last ball of the game.
Paceman Andrew Tye is in line to make his second first-class appearance a week after being picked up by the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League auction.
Tye, 28, was one of the Perth Scorchers' best performers in the recent Big Bash League, taking 14 wickets in 10 games.
He is one of two additions to the Warriors' 13-man line-up along with fellow quick David Moody, the nephew of former Australian fast bowler Tom Moody.
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