Rory McIlroy will look to build on the experience of all his near misses on Sunday as he looks to claim a first professional title at the Dubai Desert Classic after spectacularly taking control of the fog-affected event on Saturday.
The 19-year-old former world amateur number one sits at the top of the third round leaderboard on 15 under par, two clear of former champion Richard Green and in-form South African Louis Oosthuizen.
Both of them and the majority of the field must complete their third rounds in the morning after six hours of play was lost over the first two days.
First round leader McIlroy had earlier snatched the second round lead with an eagle three on the 18th green before ending his day with a second, this time on the 10th to move onto three under in fading light.
The world number 39 has yet to turn the hype, which has seen new Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie pick out McIlroy out as a potential candidate for Celtic Manor next year, into a professional breakthrough after suffering two play-off defeats last year.
But in the form which has seen him record top-five finishes in his last five events, it is surely closer than ever.
"It would be a huge first victory, it's one of the best events on Tour. For this to be my first win, if I could pull it off, it would be absolutely fantastic," said McIlroy.
"But I have just got the 11th tee shot in the morning on my mind and that's all I can do, just think about that and see what happens tomorrow.
"I think I have learnt a lot from those experiences. It will stand me in good stead and hopefully if I keep playing the way I am, I'll definitely be able to go close."
McIlroy rates the third round eagle as the best of the two and rightly so as he plunged a five iron to within two feet for a simple tap-in after earlier holing from 25 feet from the fringes of the 18th green following a cautious approach into the dangerous final green at Emirates Golf Club.
But with playing partner Oosthuizen, the runner-up at the last two events in Abu Dhabi and Qatar, and 1997 winner Green leading the chase, McIlroy is not getting carried away with another mammoth day ahead on Sunday.
But the ambitious Northern Irishman is looking forward to the prospect of another final day battle so soon after November's play-off defeat in Hong Kong.
"Louis made birdie on seven just before me and I knew I had to just grind out the putt and I holed it for par which was nice," he added.
"It was then a great way to finish and puts me into a great position going into tomorrow morning."
Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Scott Strange, Thomas Levet and Abu Dhabi winner Paul Casey are also all well placed at 10 under with former champions Robert-Jan Derksen and Dubai-based Henrik Stenson in touching distance at nine under.
Frenchman Levet was able to sign for a third round six under 66 and was only one of 17 out of the 68 who made the cut to complete their third rounds.
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