Ryan Fox and Robert MacIntyre were among the leaders as the field battled to make the match play stages on day three of the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth.
The top 24 after Saturday at Lake Karrinyup Country Club will qualify for Sunday's six hole match play knockout and just three shots separated the top 29.
There was also a battle going on at the very top of the leaderboard, with the top eight receiving a bye into the second round on day four.
Kiwi Fox, Scot MacIntyre, Australian Matt Jager and Thai Panuphol Pittayarat were leading the way at eight under, one shot clear of Grégory Bourdy, Matthew Griffin, Per Langfors, Wade Ormsby, Thomas Pieters and Clément Sordet.
As things stood, 11 players were set to play off for the final seven spots in the match play.
Pieters made the perfect start as he birdied the first for the third day in a row to break out of the leading pack, with playing partner MacIntyre also making a gain on the opening hole.
The tee was up on the par four 14th and Ormsby made an eagle to add to birdies on the tenth, 12th and 16th to move within two of the lead.
Langfors birdied the tenth and 11th and while he bogeyed the 13th, he was another to eagle the 14th and he followed that with gains on the 15th and 16th.
Jager then made a birdie on the third to join the group one off the lead and he was soon in a share of top spot as Pieters double-bogeyed the third for the second time this week.
Pittayarat had three opening pars, while Fox bogeyed the second but bounced back from ten feet on the third.
Bourdy made a fast start with birdies on the tenth, 11th, 13th and 14th and then added another on the first to move up the leaderboard.
Sordet was one under for the day after five holes, with Griffin one over after three.
