England's Justin Rose was poised to end a four-year title drought on the European Tour after taking a two-shot lead following the third round of the Australian Masters at Huntingdale on Saturday.
The world number 69 fired an eagle and four birdies in a four-under-par 68 to move to 13-under, two ahead of France's Raphael Jacquelin and Australia's Greg Chalmers and Aaron Pike in the event co-sanctioned with the Australasian tour.
Rose, chasing his first win since the 2002 British Masters, will be aware of the impressive cast of contenders in the chasing pack after a day of favourable, overcast conditions in Melbourne's southern suburbs.
Jacquelin, who fired a 67, and Chalmers were on 11-under alongside Pike, the amateur who recovered well with a birdie-birdie finish after double-bogeying the opening hole to see his two-shot overnight lead vanish immediately.
England's World Match Play champion Paul Casey was on eight-under after a contrasting round of 67 which included an eagle, six birdies and three bogeys.
He stood beside twice champion Peter Lonard of Australia, who fired a three-under 69, and Spain's Carl Suneson.
A group of eight players were on seven-under, including former champions Peter Senior, Craig Parry and Richard Green of Australia.
Rose opened quietly with four pars and a bogey before birdies at the sixth, seventh, 10th and 12th holes put him back on course.
His dominance was confirmed with an eagle at the 555-yard par-five 14th where he caressed his second shot to within three feet to go three clear before dropping back to 13-under with a bogey at 17 after his second at the par-four found sand.
