NSW Test stars Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Stuart MacGill struck just before stumps to leave South Australia punch-drunk at 3-14 chasing 360 to win in the Pura Cup match at the SCG.

South Australia will resume for Friday's fourth and final day's play still needing another 346 runs to beat the Blues.

Greg Blewett is 11 not out and second nightwatchman Callum Ferguson is yet to score, after three wickets fell in the eight overs before stumps.

First nightwatchman Cullen Bailey was bowled by MacGill for a duck in the penultimate over of the day at 3-8 after Matthew Elliott was lbw to Lee for a duck from the fifth ball of the innings and Shane Deitz was trapped in front by McGrath for two in the fourth over.

NSW captain Simon Katich declared his side's second innings closed at 2-187, 44 minutes before stumps.

After his first innings of 144, Katich was unbeaten on 79 and Michael Clarke was 16 not out. Opener Greg Mail was out for five at 1-14 and Phil Jaques made a solid 66 after his first dig of 69.

Earlier on Thursday, South Australian captain Darren Lehmann produced a typically stylish 159 but it wasn't enough to prevent NSW taking a first innings lead of 172.

In the first Pura Cup match for both sides this season, the Blues relied on Lee (4-77), McGrath (2-46) and MacGill (3-131) to bowl the Redbacks out for 343, while left-armer Nathan Bracken (1-28) also picked up a wicket to celebrate being named in the squad for next week's first Test in Brisbane against the West Indies.

Lehmann jumped to equal fifth on the list of Australian first-class century-makers, hitting 23 fours in his 202-ball, 276-minute stay.

Chasing the Blues' first innings total of 9-515 declared, the visitors resumed on 5-190 and lost Graham Manou for eight and Cleary for 52 before lunch.

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