Hope is all but lost for New Zealand in the first Test against Australia at the Basin Reserve in Wellington after finishing the third day at 187-5, still 115 runs behind the visitor's first innings total.
Eleven wickets were lost on the third day and New Zealand is in a vulnerable position thanks to seamer Doug Bollinger's brilliant spell.
New Zealand had its two most senior players left at the crease in Daniel Vettori (18 not out) and Brendon McCullum (four not out), but they are the last hope in what looks to be another doomed innings.
New Zealand coach Mark Greatbatch said he knew where his side went wrong but there were still goals left to achieve.
"We've been outplayed. The Australians bowled particularly well in both innings, hit the deck hard and we haven't quite adjusted to that attack," Greatbatch said.
We're on the back foot, [Vettori and McCullum] are positive players so we've got to be positive going into tomorrow and fight every ball and keep going in the Test match.
"It's ball by ball tomorrow. We didn't get a start this morning with Dan but he's a good enough player to not do that twice."
"It's small targets when you're in this position, you've got to achieve small targets and hope that they build in to something big."
While it was all disappointment for New Zealand, Australia had a reason to celebrate with Bollinger finishing with his best ever bowling figures of 5-28 off his 13 overs in the first innings.
The left-armer then claimed another two Kiwi scalps early in the second.
The 28-year-old was pleased with his 'intimidating' innings and said he was in great form.
"I felt really, really good today," the New South Welshman said.
"I didn't try and over-do everything. I just feel like the ball is coming out of my hand well at the moment and I'm really, really enjoying my cricket," Bollinger said.
"I'm trying to [intimidate]. That's just how I bowl. I try to bowl aggressively and be in the batsman's face and try and make them as uncomfortable as I can."