Victoria are in sight of a spot in the Sheffield Shield final after NSW's top-order fell victim to some impressive pace bowling early on day three of the match at Drummoyne Oval.
Set 166 for victory, the second-placed Blues have crashed to 7-48 at lunch, still 117 runs short of their target.
Test squad aspirants James Pattinson and Peter Siddle made the most of heavy cloud cover and humidity in Sydney to tear through the NSW batting line-up.
Pattinson, in his first Shield match since December, was the chief destroyer, returning figures of 4-12 from seven overs.
Siddle has 2-17, in an impressive return for the Test veteran after he was omitted for the Vics' previous match.
NSW openers Daniel Hughes and Nick Larkin both went for ducks, as did Moises Henriques as the hosts slipped to 3-8.
The hosts then slumped to 5-24 with the dismissals of Test batsman Kurtis Patterson (10) and promising youngster Jason Sangha (six).
Victoria resumed play on day three at 7-159, a lead of just 130 runs.
Scott Boland (10) and Jon Holland (18 not out) threw the bat for some quick runs as the lower-order added 35.
Harry Conway picked up another wicket and was the pick of the NSW bowlers with 4-50, for match figures of 9-64.
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