South Africa will enter the final day of the third Test against Australia needing a further 314 runs to pull off an improbable win.

Set an imposing victory target of 376 from a minimum 116 overs, South Africa were 62 for one at stumps on day four.

Stand-in skipper Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla will resume the fight for a history-making last-day win - and a series clean sweep - with at least 90 overs to be bowled.

Past run chases at the SCG suggest victory will elude South Africa on a wearing wicket. Australia's fourth-innings total of 288 for two in the 2005-06 season against South Africa is the highest winning total in a Sydney Test.

South Africa's task is made more difficult by the absence of Graeme Smith, the captain, who is nursing a broken finger and is highly unlikely to take any further part in proceedings. However, Mickey Arthur, the South Africa coach, refused to rule out the possibility of his team winning the third Test.

"If we can get ourselves to tea then (we'll) have a look. If we are unscathed at tea time then we'll be ready to launch a proper assault," Arthur said. "There is a dressing room full of guys that don't want to give an inch.

"The guys have given their all and have been absolutely amazing for 14 days and none of us want to end up losing the last Test match.

After Australia declared their seconds innings at 257 for four, Doug Bollinger made the early breakthrough, picking up his first Test wicket after makeshift opener Morne Morkel chipped a catch to Mitchell Johnson at mid on. Amla survived a close call on five, edging Peter Siddle past a diving Brad Haddin.

Ricky Ponting closed his side's innings after Michael Clarke was caught in the deep going after quick runs. Michael Hussey remained not out on 45.

Australia resumed day four on 33 without loss with Matthew Hayden and Simon Katich at the crease. Hayden dragged Morne Morkel onto his stumps after working hard in an attempt to build his first substantial score of the summer. He hit seven fours in a 63-ball stay that produced just as much sweat as substance. The 37-year-old was given a rousing send-off by the SCG crowd.

Ponting almost collected a king pair after leaving the first ball he faced only for it to catch the inside edge of his bat, narrowly missing the stumps and going to the boundary for four. The Australian captain's innings then flourished as he raced to a half-century at almost a run a ball. So it came as a surprise when he played on to Morkel attempting a cut shot on 53.

There were also raised eyebrows when Simon Katich was given out lbw to Dale Steyn, with only wicketkeeper Mark Boucher seemingly interested in an appeal. Clarke and Hussey then combined for a fourth-wicket partnership of 76 that helped place Australia in the box seat to win for the first time this series.

Mike Hussey has called for Australia to pull together as a team to salvage some pride from what has been a disappointing series.

"It's going to take all of us, like it did in the first innings," Hussey said. "I know Peter Siddle got the rewards (in the first innings) and got the five wickets but it was a collective effort and I think all the guys bowled particularly well.

"It's going to take a good hard grind of all the bowlers bowling well in partnerships, being patient, being disciplined - the things that we always talk about in our meetings - and hopefully a few tricks from the pitch would be nice as well to get us a couple of wickets."