Queensland remains in charge on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield final against Victoria at the MCG, but Bushrangers bats Matthew Wade and John Hastings have combined to arrest the steady fall of wickets.
At tea, Victoria was 6-141 with Wade unbeaten on 28 and Hastings 36.
Wade and Hastings have added 66 for the seventh wicket after coming together with the Vics in disarray at 6-75 following the dismissal of skipper Cameron White in the second over after lunch.
Making the most of helpful conditions in the opening session, the Bulls' pace battery smashed through the Vics' top order claiming five wickets in the space of 55 minutes.
All four Queensland quicks - Chris Swan, Luke Feldman, Ben Cutting and James Hopes - have got among the wickets with Feldman returning the best figures of 2-28.
Mindful that the 'home' team has won 22 of the previous 27 Shield finals, White made the percentage decision to bat after winning the toss in fine, warm conditions.
Openers Rob Quiney - the replacement at the top of the order for the injured Chris Rogers - and Nick Jewell safely negotiated the first half-hour before Quiney, on 15, edged Swan to Chris Hartley, low to the keeper's left.
From 1-24, the Vics were 2-33 when Jewell played on to Swan before Hopes snared the prized wicket of David Hussey, caught behind for eight.
Next, it was Feldman's turn to land a double blow when he removed Aaron Finch, caught at point by skipper Chris Simpson for 26, then the out-of-form Andrew McDonald from the very next ball, caught by Hartley, fending at a short one.
Survival was the only goal for White and Wade in the 35 minutes remaining to lunch, but the captain's stay after the break was brief.
Facing his first ball of the session, White was beaten all ends up by a super Cutting leg-cutter that clipped the top of off stump.
Tentative early, Hastings was dropped on two with the score on 87 by Chris Lynn at point from a lofted square drive.
The significance of the miss was rammed home soon after when the big all-rounder clouted successive sixes off Simpson over mid-wicket.
Wade followed Hastings' example with a glorious six over long-on off Simpson in the shadows of tea that hinted at the pair's growing confidence.
Rogers was ruled out of the match because of a fractured knuckle on his left hand, sustained in the recent Shield match against Western Australia at the WACA.
The 32-year-old had been confident of being able to bat without pain, but doubts over his ability to field and the strong prospect that the joint could fully fracture forced the selectors' hand.
The Vics made just the one change to the XI that defeated the Tigers outright in the final match of the regular season.
Making his return to the Shield from national duty in New Zealand, White is in for Michael Hill who is 12th man, while the Bulls have left Jason Floros and Ben Dunk out of the 13-man squad they brought to Melbourne for the match.
Conditions at the MCG are fine and sunny with a top temperature of 31 degrees forecast for Wednesday.
There are intermittent showers forecast for Thursday and Friday.
Victoria first innings
Quiney c Hartley by Swan 15 (21)
Jewell b Swan 7 (32)
Finch c Simpson b Feldman 26 (42)
Hussey c Hartley b Hopes 8 (11)
McDonald c Hartley b Feldman 0 (1)
White b Cutting 10 (37)
Wade not out 28 (113)
Hastings not out 36 (99)
Extras: 11 (3lb, 8nb)
Total: 141 (6 wickets, 58 overs)
1-24, 2-33, 3-46, 4-60, 5-60, 6-75
Bowling
Swan 14 - 5 - 29 - 2
Cutting 12 - 2 - 31 - 1 (7nb)
Hopes 15 - 7 - 23 - 1
Feldman 11 - 3 - 28 - 2 (1nb)
Simpson 5 - 2 - 25 - 0
Boyce 1 - 0 - 2 - 0