Western Australia opener Cameron Bancroft has been rock solid on his way to an unbeaten 72 at tea on day three of the Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland.
Bancroft and Sam Whiteman (45) combined for a 90-run opening stand at the Gabba.
Hilton Cartwright (33no) was with Bancroft at tea, with Western Australia having reached 2-173 off 78 miserly overs.
The competition leaders had resumed with their overnight score at 0-18 after Queensland declared at 6-295 just before stumps on day two. Rain had washed out the first day's play.
Day three's play has been dogged and gritty. The bowling figures of Bulls paceman Gurinder Sandhu (1-14 off 16 overs) reveal how hard the going was for the batsmen.
Bancroft and skipper Whiteman had to negotiate a difficult pre-lunch session against a quality Bulls attack but showed plenty of patience and skill.
Michael Neser and Mark Steketee - both back in the Queensland team after representing the Prime Minister's XI against the West Indies - bowled an immaculate line and length but were unable to break through.
Earlier, Bulls No.3 Bryce Street top-scored with 83 for the hosts while openers Matthew Renshaw (54) and Joe Burns (72) put on 116.
WA's left-armer Joel Paris (3-26 off 21 overs) and speedster Lance Morris (2-61 off 18) were a handful on day two.
There will be 112 overs bowled on day three, with play having started an hour earlier than scheduled to make up for the time lost on day one.
Midway through the Shield competition, Western Australia have asserted themselves as the early favourites after winning four of their opening five games to be top of the table on 31.85 points.
Tasmania are second on 20.54 with the Bulls close behind on 20.42.
