China’s Jing Yan answered any questions about handling a first-time lead on the LPGA Tour by backing up her overnight advantage to remain in front after three rounds at Blythefield Country Club.

Yan sits at 14-under-par after extending a remarkable stretch of 47 consecutive bogey-free holes and will chase a maiden LPGA Tour victory on Sunday.

Porter, however, remains right in the hunt. The Australian will begin the final round in outright third at 12-under, trailing Yan by two shots and sitting one behind England’s Lottie Woad (-13), with all three players chasing a breakthrough victory.

Porter’s position comes after another composed round on a course she said became noticeably tougher as conditions evolved throughout the day.

“Yeah, definitely,” Porter said when asked whether the course had firmed up.

“I think the first nine was very similar to the last few days, but on the back nine the greens started to firm up. The pace of my putting kind of showed that.

“But the course is ever-changing out there and it’s kind of fun.”

Rather than adjusting expectations as conditions shifted, Porter said she leaned heavily on routine and perspective.

“I think it’s definitely a time where you need to rely on your processes a lot and just remind yourself that, as I said a couple of days ago, it’s all not that bad,” Porter said.

“We’re out here, we’re having a great time and the fans here are incredible. Just looking up and seeing them, they’re all so cheerful and happy to be here, has been really good for us.

“But yeah, mostly just focusing on the process.”

Now, with her first LPGA Tour title opportunity looming, Porter admitted there will be nerves, but welcomed them.

“A wise friend of mine said to me that nerves and excitement are exactly the same feeling,” she said.

“I’m not going to lie, there’s a lot of that, but what a privilege.

“I’m really excited to go out there tomorrow and just see what happens.

“I’ll stick to the same game plan, but yeah, how cool.”

Porter had spoken earlier in the week about not getting a trophy on Saturday and, despite moving into contention, she stayed true to that approach.

“This is what we do it for,” she said.

“We do it for the nerves of being in that position, we do it for the excitement of it and we do it for the opportunity to win.

“I haven’t actually said that 'w' word yet, but as I said, we’re not holding any silverware yet.

“No one is, and no one will until about 4:30 tomorrow afternoon.

“We’re all out here just grinding and doing our best, and we’ll see how that finishes for us.”

As for preparations ahead of what could become the biggest day of her career to date? Porter’s plans were refreshingly uncomplicated.

“I’m going to sleep like a baby, to be honest, because I am exhausted,” she said.

“We’re staying in a really nice little town and there’s a river close by, so we went for a walk this morning and I think that really helped calm the mind, because my mind gets pretty busy.

“But yeah, same thing tonight. I think I’ve had tacos for the last six nights in a row, so I think that’s going to be a seventh tonight. Not that I’m suspicious at all.”