Australia requires 209 runs for victory in a gripping second Ashes Test, after a fighting sixth-wicket partnership weakened England's resolve late on day four at Lord's.
Chasing a record fourth-innings total of 522, Michael Clarke conjured his first Test ton in England and combined with Brad Haddin to steer Australia to 5 for 313 at stumps.
Their gritty partnership defied the odds and gave Australia a faint hope of batting out the Test after an English victory had appeared inevitable earlier on day four.
The dismissal of Marcus North in the middle session was England's third strike after lunch and left Australia 394 runs nigh of its target with only five wickets in hand.
But Clarke stood up to be counted for Australia with an unbeaten 125 and found a capable ally in Haddin, who added 80 to the pair's unbroken stand of 185.
Clarke's century was just the second of the Test and followed Andrew Strauss's stellar 161 on the opening day.
The Australian vice-captain played with composure under immense pressure, and survived a tense final session in which the new ball was introduced and bad light stopped play early.
Haddin was adventurous if not risky at times with a couple of slashing strokes to third man that narrowly evaded the slip cordon, but he did well to keep his wicket.
Momentum shifts
Strauss declared England's second innings closed at 6 for 311 prior to the resumption of play on day four, putting an end to Australia's torment in the field.
The hosts made a strong start when Andrew Flintoff removed the opening pair of Simon Katich (6) and Phillip Hughes (17) before lunch in controversial circumstances.
Katich fell when he spooned a catch to Kevin Pietersen on a Flintoff no-ball, while Hughes's edge through to first slip appeared not to have fully carried to Strauss.
England continued to dominate after the lunch break and the introduction of spinner Graeme Swann into the attack provided the wickets of Michael Hussey and North.
Stuart Broad also produced a crucial blow when he had Australian captain Ricky Ponting drag a delivery onto his own stumps for 38.
Hussey was the third of Australia's batsmen to depart unluckily when he was caught at first slip for 27, but replays suggested he missed a ball that turned wickedly out of the rough.
There was no doubt about North's dismissal though and the left-hander was on his way for 6 when he was bowled through the gate by Swann (2 for 62).
Clarke then dug in his heels with a patient knock that provided stability for Australia and, with Haddin by his side, unbelievably gave the tourists a shot at a record Test win.
History beckons
Victory still looms as a difficult prospect on day five as Australia seeks to break all sorts of Test cricket records to take a 1-0 lead in the Ashes series.
The highest successful fourth-innings total in Test history came in 2003 when the West Indies scored 7 for 418 to defeat Australia at St John's.
Australia's best ever Test run chase was 61 years ago - scoring 3 for 404 to defeat England at Leeds in the second Ashes Test of the 1948 series.
No side has ever come close to that at Lord's, where Australia's 3 for 329 was enough for victory against England in the 1975 Ashes series.
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