Victoria's dominance of the Sheffield Shield competition will be tested with the Bushrangers needing a further 317 runs on the final day for victory over Tasmania.
At Bellerive Oval on Wednesday the visitors were 0-44 at stumps in their second innings after Tassie posted 9(dec)-387.
It left Victoria chasing 361 to win.
The home side were spearheaded by an unbeaten century from middle-order batsman Beau Webster (122 not out).
Victorian openers Travis Dean (13 not out) and Marcus Harris (30 no) started cautiously under lights when the pink ball tends to swing, and saw out the danger period.
But with rain forecast across Hobart for most of Thursday and a hefty run chase ahead, Victoria will have their work cut out.
They also face the prospect that experienced allrounder John Hastings won't bat after suffering a day-two knee injury and failing to participate on Wednesday.
With Hastings out of the bowling attack, Chris Tremain (4-97), Dan Christian (2-61) and Jon Holland (2-72) had to step up against a sometimes-resistant Tasmanian batting XI.
They couldn't break Webster who started the day at six and stood strong as six of his partners were dismissed, before finishing with his highest Shield score.
He found some help along the way from Jordan Silk (76), Simon Milenko (51) and No.9 Sam Rainbird (32).
Tassie's total was much healthier than their 203-run first dig, to which the visitors replied with 230.
Victoria crossed Bass Strait unbeaten this Shield season.
Despite the hurdles, Victoria are confident they can keep their winning record intact.
"I wouldn't say the hard work is over, I'd say it probably starts now," Harris told reporters after play.
"If we can bat the overs tomorrow I'm pretty sure we'll chase the runs down so we're still very confident we can win the game."
Tasmania were disappointed not to get a scalp before stumps but Webster said the Tigers' game plan came together on day three.
"We had the plan right from the start of the day to hopefully bat with an hour to go and have a crack at them under the lights and to do that is good for us," he said.
