Sri Lankan century-maker Marvan Atapattu believes his team needs to bat all day to have a chance of winning the third and final cricket Test against Australia at the Sinhalese Sports Club here.

Sri Lanka enters the third day at 2-239, trailing Australia by 162 runs.

Atapattu is unbeaten on 109 and Mahela Jayawardene is on 29.

Atapattu said the pitch was "still full of runs" but was starting to take more spin which doesn't bode well for later in the game when Shane Warne could become a major factor.

"If we can (bat all day) why not?," Atapattu said.

"The pitch is starting to turn from good areas, not just from the rough, which is my main worry so we must make sure we get a good score in the first innings.

Atapattu said his performance against a wicketless Warne was "not bad so far" but feared Warne could yet have a big say in the match.

"With a little help from the pitch he will trouble us."

For Atapattu, the century was a great relief after he'd made just 165 runs from 11 previous bats against Australia.

"A hundred against the best side in the world is special, especially as I hadn't been having a very good series," Atapattu said.

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