Brad Haddin admitted that Australia's hopes of victory in the second Test hinged on the new ball come dav five in Pallekele.

Sri Lanka, all out for a measly 174 all out in their first innings, moved to 223 for two at stumps on day four after the tourists had declared on their overnight score of 411 for seven.

With openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga Paranavitana out for 36 and 55 respectively, the old guard of Kumara Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene added an unbeaten 95-run stand to stifle the opposition's charge and a third session shortened by bad light halted Austrlia's hopes of a belated breakthrough.

The slow bowlers Michael Clarke and Nathan Lyon churned out overs at a rapid rate toward the end of play in the hope of affording the seamers a late go with the new ball, but it was not to be as overhead conditions had the final say.

With his side just 14 runs ahead and the possibility of rain and the inevitability of more poor light set to interfere again in the new week, Haddin insisted the visitors will have to strike early if they are to stand any chance of wrapping up victory.

"That's why we were trying to get through some overs pretty quick from about 70-odd, so we could maybe have three or four overs with the new ball but it wasn't to be the case," said the wicketkeeper-batsman. "The game basically sits on the first session on Monday. We've got to do damage with the new ball. If we don't it's going to be tough work from there.

"It's a good wicket but it's up to us to make sure we make things happen. With that we've got to make sure with the new ball that we're getting them driving and making sure we're trying to create chances either behind the wicket or possibly even some short catches.

"It's important that we bowl well with the new ball and get the new ball up there, make them play as much as we possibly can to have a real, red-hot crack in this first session. It's a pretty important part of the game."

Haddin, not for the first time in his career and probably not the last, implored the International Cricket Council to have the Decision Review System used across the board - or not at all - after Sunday brought more lack of clarity from the DRS.

Haddin was twice convinced he had taken catches in the wake of edges from Paranavitana. While the first was turned down by television replays and the third umpire amid inconclusive evidence, the second sent the left-hander packing in under a cloud of questionable judgment.

"There was a good noise on the first one," he said. "I was pretty confident that we'd nicked the glove. Young Usman Khawaja at bat-pad thought he'd seen it come straight off the glove but it wasn't to be.

"It's pretty hard with those ones in general for umpires where it comes off the glove or the hip or the bat. It's pretty hard with no Hotspot as well, it's hard to make a decision. I was pretty confident then that we got some glove.

"I was 100 per cent sure there was an edge on the second appeal and I said so to Michael Clarke. We were a bit nervous when it went up stairs because there was no Hotspot. We threw the dice a bit but I was 100 percent sure there was an edge.

"My opinion on the DRS is that I think it needs to be consistent all around the world. I think it needs to be the same. I don't think you can chop and change from series to series. I think if you've got the technology there you might as well use it and if not don't use it at all and leave it up to the umpires.

"I think it's important with Test cricket that everything's consistent. If you're going to have Hotspot for other series, you need to have it for this. That's only my view, I think it all needs to be consistent and one message, wherever you're playing in the world."

Sangakkara, unbeaten on 69 at the close of play, expressed pride in Dilshan and Paranavitana's intial worked and hoped to cash in on his fine stand alongside Jayawardene.

"It was important we showed some character in this innings," said Sangakkara.

This was another opportunity for the guys to go out there and graft the runs and if we get a good start again on Monday we can put some pressure back on the Australians."