Showers have stymied England's hopes of a dead-rubber victory at the MCG, with rain ruining around one-and-a-half sessions on day four of the fourth Ashes test.
Australia were 103-2 at stumps yesterday, trailing by 61 runs with their two best batsmen at the crease.
David Warner and Steve Smith loom as the tourists' most imposing roadblocks as they seek to restore some pride after relinquishing the urn in Perth.
Warner is 40 not out from 140 balls, having faced more maidens in this dig than any other of his test innings.
Smith is unbeaten on 25, also batting cautiously a day after coach Darren Lehmann all but conceded Australia's hopes of another whitewash had been extinguished by Alastair Cook's record-breaking knock.