Pakistan have moved along steadily to 2-158 on day one of the second Test on a pitch that's offering very little assistance to Australia's pace attack.
Younis Khan, who made two centuries in Pakistan's 221-run win in last week's first Test in Dubai, is 49 not out from 73 deliveries at tea.
Azhar Ali is unbeaten on 26 off 89 balls, hitting just one boundary compared to Younis who has struck six fours.
Pakistan lead the two-match series one-nil and a draw would suit skipper Misbah-ul-Haq nicely.
And nothing Pakistan showed in the first two sessions of the second Test would indicate that a draw is off the table on a pitch that is set to produce some big totals.
Pakistan won a crucial toss on Thursday on a good batting track and went to lunch at 1-82.
Offspinner Nathan Lyon removed Ahmed Shehzad (35) leg-before at 1-57 and fellow opener Mohammad Hafeez (45) was caught behind off Mitchell Johnson's bowling with the score on 96.
Younis on 31 was adjudged not out after an lbw appeal from offspinner Glenn Maxwell and Australia called for a video review which showed the ball missed the pads and was gloved to the fine-leg boundary.
There was plenty of action before play as Australia announced two changes to their side following last week's massive 221-run loss in the Dubai Test.
Australia dropped batsman Alex Doolan and spinner Steve O'Keefe.
Offspinning allrounder Glenn Maxwell and left-arm quick Mitchell Starc have been recalled with Maxwell expected to bat at No.3, despite a batting average of just 9.75 in two Tests.
Pakistan named an unchanged side.
Australia captain Michael Clarke was employing three short mid-wickets and two short covers at times for his pace bowlers.
Johnson was fielding in a strange position at deep, straight mid-off to paceman Peter Siddle's bowling and was standing next to Siddle when the bowler started his run-up.
Azhar pulled away from his batting stance in the final over before lunch and it appeared Johnson was told to stand still and not walk in with the bowler as he was in the batsman's line of sight.
Pakistan, who have won twice and drawn their other three Tests in Abu Dhabi, are chasing their first Test-series win over Australia since 1994.
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