Simon Katich's fourth fifty in seven LV= County Championship innings gave Lancashire the advantage at the end of a rain-shortened first day of their Division Two match against Gloucestershire at Aigburth.
The 37-year-old Australian proved that he had returned to full fitness after being hit on the head in the nets at the Ageas Bowl last week by making 73 not out off 108 balls as the Red Rose side reached 175 for four after 48.4 overs.
Katich shared stands of 64 for the fourth wicket with Ashwell Prince and an unbroken 85 for the fifth with a confident Steven Croft as Lancashire recovered from an opening hour in which they had been reduced to 26 for three.
Craig Miles struck the first blow when he squared up Stephen Moore with a fine delivery that the Red Rose opener could only edge to Michel Klinger at slip.
Moore's departure for only four was followed three overs later by that of his opening partner Andrea Agathangelou, who was lbw on the front foot to Graeme McCarter when he had made 14.
A fine period of play for Gloucestershire in general - and McCarter in particular - was completed when the strongly-built seamer had Karl Brown taken at slip by Alex Gidman for one.
That dismissal left Lancashire poorly placed but the grooved techniques of Prince and Katich ensured the visitors enjoyed no further successes before lunch, which was taken early because of bad light when the home side had 80 for three.
Any hopes home supporters harboured that Prince and Katich would share another stand of major significance were dispelled two overs after lunch when the South African followed a ball from Liam Norwell and was caught by wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick for 29.
Yet Katich and Croft stood firm prior to bad light and heavy rain stopping play at 3pm.
Katich hit nine boundaries in his accomplished innings, while Croft displayed all the confidence of a man who had made a century in his previous championship innings by hitting half a dozen fours and a six in his 69-ball 43 not out.
Lancashire will be keen to stretch their first innings beyond 300 on a pitch that is shorn of grass and seems likely to help the spinners later in the game.