NSW are within reach of a pressure-relieving Sheffield Shield win over Queensland at the SCG with Doug Bollinger and Stephen O'Keefe starring on day three.
The Blues were 2-42 at stumps, pursuing 102 after Queensland collapsed to be all out for 145.
They looked to be doing it easy after being set a meagre target but the Bulls gave themselves a glimmer of hope after removing in-form opener Ed Cowan (8) and Ryan Carters (7) in the final session.
Kurtis Patterson (11no) and first-innings centurion Nic Maddinson (15no) look settled at the crease but they could make it interesting with some quick wickets early on Monday's final day.
The Blues will also likely have to chase victory without captain Moises Henriques who is injured with a calf strain.
After leaving the ground early on day two, Henriques did not bat in the Blues' first dig and did not field on Sunday.
Luckily the Blues have set themselves up nicely, with Bollinger and O'Keefe tearing through the Bulls' middle and lower order, the visitors losing their last six wickets for 23.
At 3-1 early in the day, Nathan Reardon (44) and Jason Floros (32) provided some resistance.
However, Bollinger and O'Keefe fired to give their side the ascendancy during a crucial third session.
After being left out of the Australian side for the Adelaide Test, O'Keefe gave a reminder of his worth with 4-38.
Bollinger topped his 3-23 haul with a screamer of a catch at fine leg to remove Ben Cutting.
His real worth, though, was in his consistency and ability to apply scoreboard pressure, at one point sending down four consecutive maidens.
"(Maidens) are really vital when they're trying to set a target to get the game going in the second innings. That's massive because they had to keep going and keep trying to score and that's just scoreboard pressure," he said.
"That's what made everyone do well, we just bowled in those partnerships."
The Blues went into the match placed fourth after an ill-fated fortnight in which they lost to Tasmania by 223 runs and their clash with Victoria was abandoned and the Bushrangers awarded all six points.
"That's the way it's gone the past couple of games but what can you do? You've just got to get up and hopefully finish off well tomorrow," Bollinger said.
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