Gremlins in the Perth pitch have spiced up the opening session of day four as Australia build towards obtaining an unassailable lead against Pakistan.
The Aussie top order were on their toes as the Pakistan quicks laid the blueprint for troubling the home side going forward.
But the Australian attack will be licking their lips for more than just the lunch spread at the break, with cracks opening up in the wicket overnight, the pitch showing rearing bounce, and the odd worm-burner.
Usman Khawaja (68no) was an ever-present calming presence in the first session for Australia but was lucky to survive a delivery that shot low and then felt the pain as he was struck in the elbow.
The hosts lost Travis Head and Steve Smith and went to lunch at 4-186, leading by 402.
It was a rocky start for the home side on day four as Shaheen Shah Afridi and Khurram Shahzad proved once again they were up to the fight.
Usman Khawaja had his edges and splice probed by Afridi while Steve Smith battled the seam of Shahzad.
However, the former skipper’s innings lasted four overs into the day, Shahzad cutting one into his pads.
Not even an instantaneous review could save Smith as ball tracking showed just millimetres of the ball tipping the top of the bails, reaffirming umpire Joel Wilson’s decision.
Travis Head was lucky to survive his 19 balls, inside edging, outside edging and top edging his way to 14 before gifting cover a simple catch to hand first-innings star Aamir Jamal his first.
Pakistan were on the charge when they thought they had hometown hero Mitch Marsh strangled down the leg side first ball, but the umpire thought otherwise, and they spurned a review.
The tourists were up again in the next over as a length delivery stayed very low to Khawaja, thudding into his pads and convincing Wilson he was out lbw.
The last-second review looked desperate but proved genius as ball tracking showed the ball’s impact outside the off stump.
Australia steadied, but Khawaja sent another injury scare through the camp, wheeling away in pain after being struck just below the elbow by Jamal trying to avoid a short ball.
He looked comfortable after resuming.
Pakistan could have seen the back of Marsh half an hour before lunch, but skipper Shan Masood grassed a simple chest-high catch at mid-off, and the West Aussie made them pay.