Rory McIlroy believes he is in a "good position going into the weekend" after a second round of 69 at the DP World Tour Championship.
The World Number Three held the overnight lead with fellow Ryder Cup star Tyrrell Hatton following opening rounds of 67 on the Earth course.
McIlroy made a rapid start with four birdies through his first seven holes to reach nine under and seemingly in control of the tournament.
However, he bogeyed the eighth, which left the door open for Englishman Paul Waring and France's Antoine Rozner to join him at eight under par.
Rozner nearly holed out for eagle at the 16th as he tapped in from inside a foot to complete a hat-trick of birdies and take the outright lead at nine under. As the 31-year-old took advantage, McIlroy bogeyed the tenth to slip two shots back.
Tyrrell Hatton became Rozner's closest rival after recovering from a bogey at the fourth by finding the cup with a clutch putt at the 15th for his fourth birdie of the day to sit one behind.
Hatton parred his way home, but McIlroy landed his five wood on the green to give himself a 15 foot eagle chance to rejoin Rozner at the summit. His effort brushed the left edge as he tapped in for birdie to get to eight under alongside Hatton.
McIlroy, who lifted the title here in 2012 and 2015, will play in the final group for the third successive round alongside Rozner as he targets a third triumph at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
"A little disappointed that I didn't kick on after such a great start, four under through seven," McIlroy said.
"I just started to miss a few fairways around the turn and not by much either, but the rough is so thick and you lose all control of your golf ball if you hit it in there.
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"I thought I hit my tee shot in the hazard on the last so it was nice to get up there and see it dry and end up having a 20-footer for eagle. Nice way to finish and a good position going into the weekend right there.
"At this point, I'm just trying to win the golf tournament and if I win the golf tournament then everything else that happens alongside that is nice.
"Right now my focus is, you know, I'd love to get my third title here at the Earth course, and if I can do that, then yeah, everything else will be great.
"It was nice to finish with a birdie and at least shoot something in the 60s after the start that I had.
"I'm so comfortable around this place and I've had success before. So I'm liking my chances going into the weekend."
