Left-arm paceman Nathan Bracken lifted NSW's prospects of an unlikely win with a lethal display of swing bowling in a Pura Cup cricket match against Western Australia.

The Test bowler (5-34) picked up WA's top five batsmen in the last session to slow the Warriors charge towards setting an enormous fourth innings run chase.

The home side was 5-223 at stumps on day three, a lead of 330 runs, with John Taylor (23no) and Kade Harvey (0no) unbeaten on a placid deck.

Bracken claimed 5-26 in his second spell after Blues captain Steve Waugh illustrated his team's desire for outright points with an early declaration.

He closed the NSW innings at 7(dec)-367 after lunch, some 107 runs behind WA's first dig of 6(dec)-474 and double the Warriors' points tally this summer.

The Blues desperately need a victory to put their Pura Cup defence back on track and handed WA first innings points in the hope of a tempting last day run chase.

But WA captain Justin Langer will be wary not to give the Blues too easy a challenge after NSW comfortably made the 303 set off 52 overs in their four-day clash in Sydney last November.

WA's bowling attack has also failed to take 20 wickets in a match this season as it moves nearer to a first Pura Cup/Sheffield Shield wooden spoon in 40 years.

Openers Langer and Michael Hussey earlier put on 157 for the opening stand in quick time before Hussey (71) played the ball onto his stumps off Bracken's bowling.

Chris Rogers (2), who made 142 in the first innings, didn't last long in his second bat before Bracken had him playing on.

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