Hideki Matsuyama will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the WGC-HSBC Champions as he goes in search of a first European Tour title at Sheshan International Golf Club.
The Japanese had a rollercoaster first two days with 19 birdies and six bogeys in 36 holes but he was a picture of consistency on Saturday, firing a bogey-free 68 to get to 17 under, three shots clear of defending champion Russell Knox.
The Scot also fired a 68 as he failed to close the gap on the midway leader, but will fancy his chances on Sunday after winning last season in his very first World Golf Championships event.
Matsuyama is going for his first WGC win in a season that has seen him secure two tops tens in Major Championships.
"The first two days, making lots of birdies, it's a lot of fun," he said. "But today, when you're in a position to win, playing smart and making no bogeys was very satisfying to me today.
"Everyone is so good. I know I'm going to have to make some birdies. But I think the key for tomorrow's round will be not making any bogeys."
American Daniel Berger was at 13 under, a shot clear of 2010 champion Francesco Molinari and another American in Bill Haas,
England's Ross Fisher and American Rickie Fowler were then at ten under, a shot ahead of Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy, Thomas Pieters, Henrik Stenson, Matt Kuchar and Xinjun Zhang.
Matsuyama came into day three with a three-shot lead but saw that cut to one as he made a single birdie in his first eight holes and Haas picked up three in his first six.
Playing smart and making no bogeys was very satisfying to me today - Hideki Matsuyama
A Haas bogey on the sixth and a Mastuyama gain on the ninth re-established the cushion and on the back nine it was Knox and Berger's turn to apply the pressure.
Matsuyama and Knox both did well to get up and down on the 12th and while Knox did well again to birdie the next and par the 14th after going in the water, Matsuyama took advantage of the par five.
A Knox approach to eight feet on the 15th led to a birdie, while Berger made four in a row from the 13th to join him at 14 under but then three-putted the 17th.
A stunning second on the par five last then set up a two-putt birdie to put Matsuyama further in control, but Knox vowed to take the battle to him on Sunday.
"I'm not going to give up my title without a big fight tomorrow," said Knox. "I look forward to every minute tomorrow and see what happens.
"The way Hideki played today, he's probably going to play similar tomorrow. I'm going to have to be foot down, be aggressive and try and catch him.
"I'm thrilled to be in this position."
Haas came home in 36 to sign for a 70 and sit alongside Molinari in fourth.
The Italian began in brilliant fashion with three birdies and while he went off the boil a little bit in the middle of his round, a closing birdie kept him in the hunt for back-to-back wins after his victory at the Italian Open,
Fisher finished in a tie for third here last season and an eagle on the 16th propelled him to a 69 after earlier making four birdies and three bogeys.
I'm not going to give up my title without a big fight tomorrow - Russell Knox
Kuchar made the 38th hole-in-one of the season when he holed a five-iron from 193 yards on the 17th.
The ace was the sixth in tournament history but was bittersweet as Kuchar failed to win a car due to the tee being brought forward making the hole less than 200 yards long.
"Literally, a minute before my shot, I found out," he said. "Hard to believe that I made the shot. I guess the way to describe it was the saddest hole-in-one.
"I knew I just made a hole-in-one and I was teased by this beautiful car sitting there, that's not to be mine."
