Commanding centuries from Cameron White and Michael Hill have Victoria primed to claim a crucial outright victory against Queensland in their Sheffield Shield clash at the MCG.
The Bushrangers cruised past the Bulls' first-innings score of 322 midway through Wednesday's play before declaring at 9-536.
The Bulls faced 15 overs late in the day and reached stumps on day three unscathed at 0-60, still 154 runs behind with Greg Moller (19) and Luke Pomersbach (28) at the crease.
Skipper White (144) scored his first Shield century since the 2008/09 final and his first in any format since November 2010, ending a worrying slump that has lasted the best part of two years.
White had managed just 233 runs at 25.89 in six Shield matches this summer with his return in the shorter formats just as bad.
But, in ideal batting conditions on Wednesday, the 29-year put all of his struggles behind him, notching 100 with a straight six and then a square cut that speared into the rope from Cameron Gannon's leg-spinners.
Earlier, fringe player Hill also scored 144, his second century of an injury-plagued first-class career, adding to the unbeaten 105 he made against England in a 2010 tour match at the MCG.
The Bushrangers' first-innings victory has moved them, temporarily at least, to the top of the table regardless of the outcome of the match ahead of next month's final.
It was a backbreaking day in the field for Queensland, who were short a bowler after Matthew Gale was ruled out of the match on Tuesday after hurting his knee while fielding.
Hill and White added 189 for the fourth wicket, and Victoria helped themselves to 120 runs in a prolonged morning session without losing a wicket, having resumed at 3-212.
The domination spilled into the middle session as Victoria reached 4-474 by tea.
But the home side didn't have it all their own way in the final two hours, losing five wickets for 62 runs.
Nathan Hauritz was left to shoulder most of the bowling load and his figures of 5-135 from 54.3 overs were a reward for his endurance rather than any menace his off spin posed.
The former Test bowler's scalps included Hill, caught at long on, and White, bowled around his legs.
And the Bulls at last exposed Victoria's lower order when Hauritz had Peter Handscomb - who threatened to join Chris Rogers, Hill and White in triple figures - caught at mid off for 59.
Seamer Ronan McDonald (2-134) had all-rounder Will Sheridan (14) caught at cover and Clint McKay inched his way to nine before falling to part-timer Nathan Reardon (1-13).
Hauritz snared the final wicket of the innings, removing Clive Rose (21) to complete his five-wicket haul.
Pacemen Clint McKay (0-19), Will Sheridan (0-18) and leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed (0-9) tried desperately in the last hour of play but couldn't find a breakthrough for the Bushrangers.
The Vics will look to debutant spinners Rose and Ahmed to bowl them to victory on Thursday, with the wicket already showing signs of wear.