Outright defeat looms for South Australia after NSW enforced the follow-on in the Sheffield Shield clash at the SCG.
Replying to the Blues formidable first innings of 9 (dec)-550, the Redbacks were bowled out for 267 shortly after lunch on the third day.
Blues skipper Simon Katich asked the Redbacks to bat again and his bowlers responded with two quick wickets before the visitors recovered to reach tea 2-130.
Mark Cosgrove, coming off three consecutive ducks, is unbeaten on 63 with James Smith 51.
The pair has put on 113 for the third wicket after SA had been 2-17.
Still requiring a further 153 runs to make NSW bat again with four sessions left, South Australia's hopes of salvaging anything from the game look forlorn.
The Redbacks started day three 4-164 in their first innings but struck disaster in just the fourth over.
Aaron O'Brien had added just one score to his 36 before edging Clark to Usman Khawaja who completed a good catch low down at gully.
O'Brien looked unconvinced the ball had carried but was soon on his way with the Redbacks 5-177.
Australian T20 representative and former Blue Dan Christian joined Cameron Borgas at the crease and patiently made his way to 13 from 44 balls until he launched an audacious shot off Stephen O'Keefe's bowling.
The ball flew off the leading edge and was comfortable taken by Mitchell Starc at cover point.
The visitors slumped to 7-218 when Borgas' stubborn knock came to an end on 62, caught behind by Peter Nevill off the impressive Trent Copeland.
His innings lasted 143 balls and featured seen fours in what was virtually a lone hand.
Tim Ludeman (24) and Mark Cleary (28) steered SA to lunch after a 49-run union and the follow-on target looked closer, if not feasibly obtainable.
But after the interval the Redbacks inexplicably threw away their last three wickets without adding to their lunch total.
Copeland and O'Keefe finished with four wickets apiece.
Sent back in, SA lost Daniel Harris (0) and Michael Klinger (9) before Cosgrove and Smith steadied.
New South Wales 1st innings 9 (dec) 550
South Australia 1st innings
Smith c Smith b Clark 9
Harris lbw Copeland 54
Klinger lbw O'Keefe 29
Cosgrove c Smith b O'Keefe 0
Borgas c Nevill b Copeland 62
O'Brien c Khawaja b Clark 37
Christian c Starc b O'Keefe 13
Ludeman b Copeland 24
Cleary c Nevill b O'Keefe 28
Putland c Smith b Copeland 0
George not out 0
Extras: 11 (5lb, 5nb, 1w)
Total: 267 (10 wickets; 93.1 overs)
FOW: 1-22, 2-80, 3-84, 4-104, 5-177, 6-206, 7-218, 8-267, 9-267, 10-267
Bowling
Copeland 25.1 – 7 – 55 – 4 (4nb, 1w)
Clark 20 – 5 – 62 - 2
Starc 9 – 2 – 35 - 0 (1nb)
Smith 10 – 2 – 23 – 0
O'Keefe 29 – 6 – 87 – 4
South Australia 2nd innings
Harris c Nevill b Clark 0
Smith not out 51
Klinger v Copeland 9
Cosgrove not out 63
Extras: 7 (4b, 3lb)
Total: 130 (2 wickets; 25 overs)
FOW: 1-0, 2-17
Bowling
Clark 5 – 1 – 23 - 1
Copeland 11 – 1 – 51 - 1
Starc 2 – 0 – 20 - 0
O'Keefe 6 – 1 – 29 - 0
Smith 1 – 1 -0- 0