Star performances from Steven Smith and Trent Copeland have placed New South Wales in total control against Tasmania at stumps on day two of their Sheffield Shield clash at Bellerive Oval.
After a brilliant 177 from Smith powered the Blues to 6-468 (declared), a devastating bowling effort from Trent Copeland (4-26), which included 12 maidens from 19 overs, has reduced the Tigers to 6-173 - a first-innings deficit of 295 runs.
Batsman Alex Doolan (100) has provided the only highlight for the Tigers with a glittering century that included 14 boundaries and a six.
The situation has put Tasmania's slim hopes of progressing to the final in serious jeopardy.
The Tigers are nine points behind second-placed Queensland and have to win this match and their final encounter outright to have any chance of pinching second spot.
NSW can still make the final if it wins its final two matches and Queensland suffers two heavy defeats.
Tasmania made a solid start to its first innings, after losing opener Rhett Lockyear with the score on four, to be 1-101 with Doolan and Ed Cowan combining for a 97-run second-wicket stand.
But it all went downhill from there for Tasmania as it proceeded to lose 5-55.
After trapping Lockyear (one) lbw, Copeland had Cowan (22) caught by Peter Nevill before bowling Ford Ranger Cup final hero Tim Paine (four) and Dan Marsh (29).
Mitchell Starc (2-48) claimed the other two wickets including the prized scalp of Doolan who was also dismissed lbw.
Earlier, Smith used the morning session to compile an enlivening century.
Starting the day on 55, with the overall score 4-326, Smith belted an extra 122 runs as NSW's batting dominance continued but skipper Stuart Clark called an end to the innings at lunch when Smith was the sixth man out, caught attempting a third six in as many balls off Adam Maher.
The exciting all-rounder batted aggressively, hitting sixes to bring up his hundred and to go past 150.
Fast bowler Adam Griffith (2-93) and young all-rounder James Faulkner (1-67) did most of the first-session bowling for Tasmania but it was Xavier Doherty (2-102) who eventually snared the desperately-needed breakthrough, bowling overnight batsman Ben Rohrer for 37.
Dominic Thornely was unbeaten on 14 when the declaration came.
New South Wales 1st innings
Jaques c Bailey b Doherty 88
Hughes c Paine b Griffith 58
Khawaja c Paine b Faulkner 22
Forrest c Paine b Griffith 62
Smith c Bailey b Maher 177
Rohrer b Doherty 37
Thornely not out 14
Extras: 10 (4b, 4lb, 1nb, 1w)
Total: 468 (6 wickets dec.; 123.3 overs)
FOW: 1-140, 2-172, 3-175, 4-294, 5-392, 6-468
Bowling
Griffith 27 - 6 - 93 - 2
Maher 19.3 - 2 - 99 - 1 (1w, 1nb)
Doherty 35 - 7 - 102 - 2
Drew 15 - 1 - 96 - 0
Faulkner 24 - 8 - 67 - 1
Marsh 1 - 0 - 1 - 0
Bailey 2 - 0 - 2 - 0
Tasmania 1st innings
Lockyear lbw b Copeland 1
Cowan c Nevill b Copeland 22
Doolan lbw b Starc 100
Bailey b Starc 3
Marsh b Copeland 29
Paine b Copeland 4
Faulkner not out 1
Doherty not out 4
Extras: 9 (3lb, 6b)
Total: 173 (6 wickets; 68 overs)
FOW: 1-4, 2-101, 3-118, 4-155, 5-161, 6-166
Bowling
Copeland 19 - 12 - 26 - 4
Clark 10 - 4 - 18 - 0
Starc 12 - 2 - 48 - 2
Smith 13 - 1 - 47 - 0
Thornely 14 - 4 - 25 - 0