Australian cricket captain Steve Smith could find himself fighting yet another rearguard effort, as NSW battle to avoid defeat in a Sheffield Shield match.
Smith has become all too familiar with adverse batting situations in recent months, with Australia flopping to five consecutive Test losses and being whitewashed 5-0 by South Africa in a one-day series.
He''s unlikely to have it any easier on Sunday at the SCG, where NSW resume at 1-39 chasing 391 on a wearing pitch.
Smith is next man in and will look to improve on his first innings score of eight.
The team for the third Test in Adelaide will be announced on Sunday afternoon, with the selectors tipped to make several changes and blood some new faces.
As has been the case in the other two Shield matches in the current round, uncapped players and former Test men hoping for a recall have experienced mixed fortunes.at the SCG
Victorian batsman Peter Handscomb has been widely tipped for a Test debut, especially after scoring 215 in the Bushrangers first innings.
NSW batsman Kurtis Patterson is another who might be in the mix, adding to his good start to the season with 55 in the Blues' first innings.
Other candidates haven't been so impressive, with Glenn Maxwell dismissed cheaply twice and Nic Maddinson and Matthew Wade out for single figure scores, while incumbent Test spinner Nathan Lyon went wicketless in both innings.
Along with Smith, Maddinson and Patterson should each get another dig on Sunday, but the selectors may have already made their minds up about the Test team before they get to the crease.
Patterson said NSW wanted to avoid getting trapped in a survival mindset on Sunday.
"We're going to have to play straight and be as disciplined as we can because we know they are going to be,'" Patterson said.
Share
