Queensland 179 and 173 for 5 (Peirson 51*, Tremain 3-35) trail New South Wales 446 (Edwards 87, Kerr 86, Hughes 59, Green 50) by 97 runs

Late showers and a stonewalling sixth-wicket stand have spared Queensland a three-day defeat but they remain in a scrap for survival in their Sheffield Shield clash with New South Wales.

Bird had his tail up and with the second ball of Queensland's second innings dismissed first-innings top-scorer Bryce Street for a duck, lbw shouldering arms.

Tremain sent Joe Burns, captain Usman Khawaja and Jack Clayton packing to reduce Queensland to 59 for 4. Khawaja was caught behind from around the wicket and Clayton pinned lbw in consecutive deliveries.

They slumped to 91 for 5 when Test hopeful Matt Renshaw's counter-punching knock ended on 55, perhaps unfortunate to be adjudged caught behind to first-innings bowling hero Jack Edwards with the ball seeming to only brush the opener's sweater.

"If I feathered one then what's what happens but unfortunately I'm not sure," Renshaw said diplomatically when asked about his dismissal.

"I felt pretty good out there...I got a few balls in my area to score. We've got a bit of momentum now with these two putting on a good partnership."

Pierson and Neser will need to bat deep into day four to give Queensland any hope of avoiding defeat.