Spinner Cullen Bailey snared four wickets on Thursday to put Australia A in a promising position heading into the final day of their four-day Top End Cricket Series match against Pakistan A.

Australia A's bowlers faced a tough day on the flat wicket at Darwin's TIO Stadium, but managed to bowl Pakistan out for 431 in their first innings during the final hour of play.

The hosts lost two wickets in its second innings but led Pakistan A by 131 runs at stumps with eight wickets in hand.

Opener Chris Rogers fell for 16, while Mark Cosgrove was caught at bat pad for two on the last ball of the day.

Phil Jaques was not out on 37.

It is unclear whether vice-captain Brad Hodge will bat next, after he suffered a neck injury during his 25-run knock in Australia A's first innings total of 6-510 (dec).

Cricket Australia said Hodge's progress would be monitored, but was expected to bat down the order on Friday.

Bailey believed Australia A would bat for several hours on Friday before deciding whether to declare and try and win the game.

"It's obviously quite an unresponsive pitch so its always sort of risky setting targets on a pitch like this, because it does favour the bat considerably," Bailey said.

"I think we'll probably just bat for the first couple of hours and then see how it went.

"If we felt we'd be able to go through them, and if we had enough runs on the board that we wouldn't be handing a victory to them, then I think we'll have a look then."

Earlier, Pakistan opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez celebrated a magnificent 180-run innings before edging one behind to wicketkeeper Haddin off fast bowler Mitchell Johnson.

Making light work of the concerted Australian attack, his 298-minute innings included 19 fours and three sixes.

But Pakistan's superb effort began to unravel after Hafeez exited the field at 5-353, with the team's final four wickets falling for just 26 runs.

Australia's spin bowlers had the most success, with Bailey grabbing 4-71.

Off-spinner Daniel Cullen picked up 2-108 while Johnson nabbed 3-93.

Bailey said it was hard work on the flat wicket.

"The other guys bowled really, really well in probably the tougher period," he said.

"I suppose I was a little bit fortunate to come in on the end, whereas I thought Mitchell Johnson bowled a terrific spell in the middle to give us a couple of wickets that probably did crack it open and give us a sniff at the tail."

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