Love predicts tough times

Second-day centurion Martin Love has predicted tough times ahead for the youthful New South Wales batting line-up when they resume their second-innings on day three at the SCG still 117 runs in arrears.

The Queensland veteran was back to his best after a frustrating run of injuries top scoring with 110 on the way to his 43rd first-class ton.

But while the 34-year-old appeared at ease on a seemingly benign SCG wicket, Love believes runs will prove hard to come by on day three.

"I'd rather be in our position than theirs definitely and with that lead hopefully we can take advantage of that and bowl well and hopefully pick up some wickets fairly early on tomorrow," Love said.

"Once that ball gets a bit older and the wicket is obviously not going to get any better than it is at the moment it should become quite difficult if we bowl well."

"(The Blues) are a young side and haven't probably batted in these conditions a lot so we'll certainly be hoping to take advantage of that."

Love confirmed the wicket had already begun to deteriorate early on day two.

"There's been quite a few (deliveries) keep low during the day, (the bowlers) haven't taken any wickets with those balls that have kept low but they're always in the back of your mind I guess that it might happen," he said.

But Blues paceman Burt Cockley, the pick of the Blues bowlers on his way to an impressive five-wicket haul (5-76 from 19 overs), backed his team-mates to forge ahead when play resumes.

"There's not too much in the wicket so hopefully the boys can bat all day tomorrow and try and get the total and try and build on it," Cockley said.

"There's still a long way to go in the game but (the aim is) to try and bat all day tomorrow and get as big a total as we can."