Sir Ian Botham says Pakistan are favourites to win the third Test in Sharjah, but England can still tie the series if Alastair Cook or Joe Root fire.
England are 46-2 chasing 284 to win after Mohammad Hafeez's 151 helped Pakistan to 355 in their second innings.
Cook (17no) and Root (6no) are at the crease for England and Botham says hopes of a series-tying win are reliant on them.
"If England have any chance, it's because of the two batsmen currently out there," said Botham. "One of them, or both, need to get a big score.
"The odds have shifted very much towards Pakistan now. England are going to be under the cosh, but the good thing is, Pakistan have no reviews left which might help a little.
"Someone needs to step up to the plate like Mohammad Hafeez did for Pakistan - he was fluent from the start, his shot selection was great, and played magnificently.
"That's my point about the two batsmen England have in now, if one of them can do the same and score 150 plus, we'll have a really exciting game on our hands.
"At the moment though, Misbah-ul-Haq will sleep the better of the two captains. If England bat well for that first session, who knows what can happen?
"Yasir Shah will be a massive threat. He bustles through his action and bowls 8-10 kilometers per hour quicker than Adil Rashid.
"The good thing is though he doesn't have a lot of confidence in his googly at the moment, and you don't see it very often.
"It's a massive task for England, an uphill task, but the right two players are at the crease now."
Will England draw the series with an historic win in Sharjah? Live coverage of the fifth and final day of the third Test is on Sky Sports 2 from 5.45am on Thursday. You can also watch without a contract on NOW TV. Don't miss highlights of today's play at 5pm on Sky Sports 2, followed by The Verdict at 6pm on the same channel.