Australia was dealt fresh injury scares late on the third day of the first cricket Test against Zimbabwe at the WACA, with bowlers Jason Gillespie and Stuart MacGill forced off the ground during the last session.

If the pair is unable to bowl Sunday, it gives Zimbabwe a chance to avoid a massive innings loss after the tourists followed on 496 behind Australia's 6-735 declared.

At stumps, Zimbabwe was 2-87 in its second innings.

Bowled out for 239 in its first innings, Zimbabwe needs another 409 runs to make Australia bat again and will resume Sunday with Mark Vermeulen on 50 and Stuart Carlisle on 26.

Australia declared on its highest total on home soil on the back of Matthew Hayden's record-breaking 380.

It took Australia just two sessions to wrap up Zimbabwe's first innings after it started the day on 1-79.

Only Trevor Gripper (53) and Craig Wishart (46) offered any resistance as MacGill (2-54) made inroads before lunch, and Brett Lee and Andy Bichel then cleaned up the tail.

Bichel (2-62) had Wishart caught behind after a 63-run stand with Craig Evans (22) and then bowled Evans in his next over.

From there, the end was swift.

Lee (3-48) bowled Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak (nine) with a beauty and had Andy Blignaut (0) LBW next ball.

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