The pair routed NSW for 121 on day two of the Sheffield Shield final in Melbourne, putting Victoria in the box seat to claim their fourth title in five seasons.

In front of national selector Trevor Hohns, Siddle picked up 5-28 - his first five-wicket haul on Australian soil in more than four years - while Pattinson was an aggressive foil with 3-30.

"Whether it's me building pressure and him scaring them with pace or swing ... we complement each other very well," Siddle said.

"Over in England, I think bowling together is not as silly as it sounds. We would be a good pair to have there later on in the year."

The 34-year-old urged selector to consider his experience and good record in the old dart as they mull which quicks will form the touring squad behind frontline trio Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

Siddle was impressive in county cricket last season and took six wickets for Australia in the 2015 fifth-Test dead rubber, after he was controversially overlooked when the series was alive.

"That was enough ... to show them what I could've done if I had been picked earlier," he said.

"Last year in England was probably the best I've bowled in a long time in any form of cricket. It gave me that confidence I could continue to keep playing."

Bad light stopped play early at Junction Oval on Friday, with Victoria reaching 1-48 in their second innings for an overall lead of 216 runs.

Test opener and first innings centurion Marcus Harris was clean bowled by Sean Abbott for 23 late in the day.

But the day belonged to a fired-up Siddle, who starred with the English Dukes ball under overcast skies.

NSW lost a staggering 7-33 in the second session, a collapse sparked when Pattinson trapped Jason Sangha in front for 21.

The big quick, who worked up considerable pace, then bowled NSW skipper Peter Nevill (four) with a delivery that jagged back.

Siddle, who only found out he was playing on the morning of the match, cleaned up the lower order and took his 200th Shield wicket when Jack Edwards (20) was caught behind to end the innings.

On a day where fifteen wickets fell, Copeland (5-74) ran through the Victoria tail in the morning session to bowl the hosts out for 289.

Pattinson was unbeaten on a valuable 23 from 96 balls batting at No.7.

Victoria is ahead on first innings bonus points, 1.88 to NSW's 0.9. They will decide the result in the unlikely event of a draw.

Australian Associated Press