Australia need seven more wickets to complete an Ashes whitewash over England in Sydney.
The hosts were bowled out for 276 after lunch on day three at the SCG, leaving the tourists a world-record chase of 448 on their hands.
Alastair Cook went in just the third over chasing a wide delivery from Mitchell Johnson, only to edge behind for Brad Haddin to catch comfortably.
Ryan Harris then struck to remove Ian Bell, as the number three cut the ball straight to David Warner at gully.
A moment of magic saw Kevin Pietersen sent back to the pavilion, with George Bailey somehow contorting his body to catch the ball after a thick inside edge off the bowling of Harris.
Michael Carberry, whose bat bizarrely broke in two after playing a forward defensive to Harris, survived a review after Haddin was convinced that the batsman had edged a Nathan Lyon delivery.
Umpire Marais Erasmus was unmoved by the appeals and there was nothing on either Hotspot or Snicko to suggest that his decision was incorrect, despite an audible sound.
Carberry will return to the crease for the final session, partnered by Gary Ballance, with England 87-3 and trailing by 361 runs.
You can follow the rest of the day's play with Sports Mole's live text commentary by clicking here.