Sheffield Shield leaders Victoria overcame a poor start to scratch their way to 258 on day one against old rivals NSW as the four-day domestic competition resumed following a two-month mid-season break.
And Bushrangers' top-scorer Travis Dean believes the score may prove to be competitive on a challenging MCG wicket.
The opener batted for more than four hours on Wednesday to compile a defiant 67 off 182 balls.
Some late hitting from former Tasmania allrounder Evan Gulbis (42 off 48 balls) on his Victorian debut helped the score past 200.
In reply, NSW were 0-0 at stumps having faced just one over.
"It was tough going from the outset," Dean said.
"The wicket was a tad slow at the start of the innings and swung around a fair bit for most of us, but that is a good sign for us.
"We felt that 260 would be about par, but it is hard to judge until both teams bat on the wicket.
"With our bowling attack we could really put a dent in them early tomorrow morning and that could set us up for the game."
In Scott Boland and Jon Holland, Victoria's attack boasts two of the Shield's leading wicket-takers.
NSW are without key batsman Nic Maddinson, who withdrew on the eve of the match for personal reasons.
This round marked the first time Dukes 'Special County' balls have been used, but Dean said it was hard to pick-up any discernible difference.
"They bowled pretty well and I think it would have swung around with the Kookaburra as well," he said.
"It was hard for me to get going and my strike-rate wasn't great, but I felt the longer I stayed out there the more it would benefit the team."
Victoria also handed a debut to 18-year-old batsman Will Pucovski, with the teenager making a composed 28.
"He has been making runs for fun (in grade cricket) so I told him to stick to the method he has been using, and just soak it all up and enjoy it, and he batted well I thought," Dean said.
Medium-pacer Harry Conway shone for the Blues with 3-25 off 15 tidy overs, including the important wickets of Dean, Rob Quiney (33) and captain Cameron White (three).
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