Alex Noren was spurred on by playing partner Scott Hend as the duo set up a potential final day duel at the Omega European Masters.
Both men came into the third round at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club a shot behind the overnight leaders but Hend was five under for his first ten holes to move out in front and, at that point, he was four clear of Noren.
The Swede then birdied the 14th and 15th before making another gain courtesy of a 50-foot putt on the 17th and, while Hend also birdied the 15th, the Australian dropped a shot on the last.
That left the duo separated by a single stroke and Noren admitted his partner's exemplary play for 17 holes had helped him to his 66.
"It was a good day, a little bit tougher playing in the afternoon here," he said. "It's a little bit drier and bouncy and Hend was playing really well from the start, making birdies, and he was four under through nine. I was just trying to hang in there and finish up with some good birdies.
"You're just trying to stay in contact and he was playing great, it's also easier to play with someone who's playing good."
Both of the leading duo could have made bogeys on the last after sending their tee-shots right and Noren admitted to some good luck in getting over the water in front of the green.
"I had some very good fortune on 18," he said. "I didn't hit the very best of tee-shots and I was down the right. I tried to hit way past the pin but my caddie thought I needed one more club and I thought it was enough with what I hit. It just bounced over the ditch."
I was just trying to hang in there and finish up with some good birdies - Alex Noren
One man who is looking to make sure it is not a two-horse race on Sunday is Richard Bland. The Englishman is three shots behind the leader after a third-round 69.
"I didn't feel like I had my game with me today," he said. "I holed a couple of putts early on. I was just fighting it all day and to be fair I felt that a little yesterday.
"Hendy is three in front of me and Alex is a couple ahead so they're not going to come back to me, I'm going to have to go and get them and play well, as aggressively as I can."
England's Andrew Johnston and Frenchman Romain Langasque were then in the group at nine under and they admitted to tinges of frustration after rounds of 68 and 70 respectively.
"If you par the first few holes here it's not a bad start and I didn't take advantage of it in the next three after that, which was a bit frustrating," said Johnston. "I made a good birdie on 11 and didn't take advantage of the par fives so it was a bit frustrating."
"My game was not good, that's golf," added Langasque. "I will do my best tomorrow but on the 16th tee I found the key and I hit some good shots to finish so that could be good tomorrow.
"Today I was a little bit nervous because there were a lot of people around but that's what I want to have every week, I'm working for that. I will have some pressure but I will do my best, take my chance and try to win this tournament."
