NSW will battle against a large slice of history tomorrow after being set 406 runs for victory in its Pura Cup cricket match against Western Australia at the WACA ground.

The Blues dragged back 26 runs late in the day for no loss in the knowledge that they have never scored more than 281 in the fourth innings in a match at the WACA.

And they have a woeful record in recent times in the four-day game in Perth having lost four of their last five matches outright.

Blues openers Brad Haddin (14no) and Grant Lambert (8no) negotiated ten overs late in the day in fading light.

The Warriors earlier declared their second innings closed at 6-158, an overall lead of 405 runs nearing stumps on the third day of the match.

It came after Warriors pace duo Brad Williams (4-89) and Jo Angel (4-91) skittled the Blues out for 253 in reply to the Warriors' first innings total of 7(dec)-500.

Brad Hogg (17no) and Kade Harvey (13no) were the unbeaten batsmen when West Australian captain Simon Katich finally ended the innings.

Scott Meuleman (0) was the first casualty caught behind off Stuart Clark's (2-39) bowling without a run on the board.

Katich (23) fell trying to pull Clark while Ryan Campbell (11) and Marcus North (9) had their stumps rattled by Don Nash (3-59) in the rush for quick runs.

Opener Michael Hussey (60) continued his good form with an entertaining knock before he was Nash's third victim while Chris Rogers (18) swept Higgs straight to Michael Clarke.

Earlier Angel and Williams wrapped up the tail after lunch to secure first innings points after Graeme Rummans' (55) defiant knock of just under four hours came to an end.

The Blues batting lineup folded after Rummans was caught behind for Angel's third scalp, losing their last five wickets for 48 runs.

Mark Higgs (23) fell soon after with Hussey taking a sharp catch in slips off Williams' bowling.

Brett Van Deinsen, who batted with a runner after injuring his back bowling yesterday, made a quickfire 27 before he became the fourth victim of the Campbell-Angel combination of the innings.

Williams then took a fine return catch to dismiss Nathan Bracken for a duck before Nash (9) was run out in a mix-up with Stuart Clark (6no).

Williams' earlier claimed the crucial wicket of Michael Bevan (66) while young WA quick Michael Clark (1-33) snared captain Shane Lee's (18) wicket.

An outright win for the Warriors will see them leapfrog South Australia into second place on the Pura Cup ladder while NSW will need a miracle to win and get off the bottom of the table.

© 2002 AAP