Chris Tremain's four wickets helped Victoria restrict New South Wales to 8 for 262 after day one of the Sheffield Shield match at Traeger Park in Alice Springs.

The Bushrangers are fighting to preserve a narrow lead at the top of the points table and thus ensure the competition final is also played in the Red Centre.

Tremain and the left-arm spinner Jon Holland (2 for 72) were among the wickets, both sides choosing twin spin on a slow surface. The Blues have named Arjun Nair alongside Nathan Lyon, while Holland joined Fawad Ahmed for the Bushrangers.

Victoria had looked capable of bowling the Blues out cheaply when Ben Rohrer was fourth man out for the visitors with only 69 runs on the board, but a 110-run stand between Kurtis Patterson and Ryan Carters allowed NSW to gain a foothold.

Patterson's assured 82 off 174 balls maintained a strong recent run of scoring since the Big Bash League break, though he would have been disappointed to fall to Holland's left-arm spin when within sight of a hundred.

Carters also added a useful 69, and NSW will hope for some tail-end resistance from Nair and Lyon when play resumes.