Shane Warne is within sight of his maiden Test century and will aim to bat Australia towards safety in the third Ashes Test against England at Old Trafford.

Warne will resume on 78 in Australia's total of 7-264 on day four, with Jason Gillespie unbeaten on seven not out.

With Australia trailing by 180 runs following England's first innings total of 444, the pair will aim to build on their partnership of 63.

The longer the tailenders can bat, the more time it will deny England to set a target in their second innings, and the less time it will mean Australia has to bat in the fourth innings to draw the match.

The series is level at 1-1.

Warne took career wicket No.600 earlier in this match and could make the Test his own by posting an elusive century.

The 35-year-old veteran of 126 matches owns the dubious record of having scored the most runs (2,676) in Test cricket without a century and has a highest-score of 99, made against New Zealand at Perth in 2001.

Warne and Gillespie added 50 runs in the 14 overs bowled on day three, which was ruined by rain.

But the two short sessions were costly for England as wicketkeeper Geraint Jones missed a chance to stump Warne off Ashley Giles' bowling and then dropped the Victorian when he edged Andrew Flintoff.

Warne and Gillespie ensured Australia did not have to follow-on.

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