James Kirtley was the star of the morning session as Sussex attempted to take 13 Notts wickets in the day to force the victory that would put them top of Division One.
Kirtley finished off the Notts first innings and snapped up the first wicket in the second innings to leave the visitors in a strong position.
Paul Hutchison grabbed the wicket of Guy Welton to leave Notts at 52-2 after 19 overs and Sussex will hope the forecast rain holds off.
Notts resumed on 289-7 needing another 58 to avoid the follow-on but Sussex took the initiative immediately when Kevin Pietersen was caught behind at first slip by Richard Montgomerie for 139 off the eighth ball of the day, bowled by Kirtley.
His dismissal exposed the Notts tail which was swiftly mopped up as Kirtley claimed his fifth wicket by bowling Andrew Harris for one with a delivery that kept a fraction low.
In the next over Mushtaq Ahmed bagged the wicket of Gareth Clough for 16 to leave Notts all out for 296.
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