Greeted by fellow Australian Open champion Karrie Webb on the practice range prior to teeing off, Green looked like laying an early claim to the Karrie Webb Cup, pushing out to a five-stroke lead midway through the front nine on Saturday.

The 29-year-old endured a couple of body shots on the way in with bogeys at 13 and 17 to shoot 4-under 67 and hold a two-stroke lead at 14-under par.

For the second straight week, the world No.7 will have the second-highest ranked player in the field for company on Sunday in South African Casandra Alexander; the world No.43 defying a problematic putter to post 6-under 65 for 12-under par, level with Swiss unknown Vanessa Knecht (65).

Finland’s Noora Komulainen made eight birdies in her final 12 holes to set a new course record at 8-under 63, level with three-time Ladies European Tour winner Meghan MacLaren in a share of fourth at 10-under par.

No Australian golfer has ever won three tournaments in succession on major international tours; a milestone now within Green’s reach following her LPGA Tour win in Singapore and last week’s emotional Australian Open triumph co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour.

Green is fully expecting the likes of Alexander to come out swinging on Sunday, but hopes the physical punishment of eight two-minute rounds in the ring will help her be the last one standing.

“It’s not something I can always do throughout the season, just because I will get a little bit sore, but I’ve probably got eight to 10 sessions in this off-season,” said Green.

“I think it’s really helped with my stamina, at least early in the year.

“At first, I wanted to just punch as hard as possible, instead of actually having the stamina to go eight rounds, but it’s been a lot of fun. I’ve really enjoyed it.”

The back nine of The Palms Course at Sanctuary Cove has landed some blows of its own over the first three days.

Green has played the last six holes in even par the past two rounds, acknowledging it’s a stretch of the golf course she will need to cope with better to write her name into the history books.

“I think it’s hard to manage,” she added. “I feel like 10, 11, 12 are great because they’re all down wind and then 13, the par 3, it comes straight back into your face.

“Knowing whether to be aggressive and have the club go right near the hole or whether to just leave yourself a 20-footer up the hill is kind of tricky.

“I bogeyed that hole today, but I think the bogey on 17 was probably more annoying.”

Displaying her aggressive style of play to full effect at the par-5 seventh, Alexander has the firepower to put Green on the ropes; grateful that the deficit is half what it was after 54 holes at Kooyonga.

“I like the final group; that gets me going,” said Alexander.

“Hannah’s not as far ahead as last week, so at least we stand half a chance.

“We’ll try to give her a run for her money, but she’s top 10 in the world, so it’s going to be a big feat.”

Although unfamiliar to its pressures, Knecht is also excited at the prospect of a final-group pairing with a major champion.

The 28-year-old had one top-10 finish in her LET rookie season in 2023 and arrived in Australia three weeks ago ranked outside the top 1500 in the world.

A top-30 finish at the Australian Open resulted in her ranking climbing 336 spots and inside the top 1000; that ranking sure to receive another boost with a strong Sunday finish.

“I mean, she’s a major winner and she’s done amazing things, but in the end, she’s also just a person,” said Knecht, who has been exposed to a few boxing kangaroos on the golf course in her first visit to Australia.

“I am super-excited to meet her, get to talk to her, maybe learn a few things and yeah, do my own thing.”

At 6-under par and outright 13th, South Australian amateur Raegan Denton (68) is the next best Australian, just two days out from flying to the United States to prepare for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Entry for spectators is free for Sunday's final round, which will also be broadcast live on Nine and 9Now and Kayo Sports and Fox Sports, available on Foxtel from 11pm-4pm AEST.