Higgins and Brereton sit 7-under for the tournament, with Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner Ben Henkel the best-placed chaser, two shots in arrears after a 1-under 70, while 2018 champion Jake McLeod, last start winner Matias Sanchez and Haydn Barron are a shot further back on 4-under.

Defending champion Lucas Herbert is still in the mix after a disappointing 1-over day put him at 1-under for the tournament.

Starting their days on the 10th hole, Higgins and Brereton were out in the tougher afternoon conditions a few groups apart; the duo recording matching 2-under first nines before climbing out of the logjam on the leaderboard over the closing stages on Friday.

The three-hole stretch from the seventh hole proved the difference for both, with birdies at the par-5 seventh that yielded 29 eagles on day two and an even an albatross to Kerry Mountcastle, followed by birdies at the uphill ninth.

Higgins’ final moments were particularly noteworthy, with his second to the ninth from 170 metres and uphill with a 6-iron nestling two feet from the hole.

“I sort of knew that seven was a good birdie chance, straight downwind," Higgins said. "I actually missed a four and a half footer for eagle, then made a good par on eight and then hit an unbelievable shot into nine,” Higgins said.

“So that was a really good finish to the day.”

Brereton’s 3-under second nine gave him a 5-under 66, the equal-lowest round of the second day.

Darcy Brereton fired a 5-under 66, finishing strongly with birdies on seven and nine to join Higgins atop a crowded NSW Open leaderboard. (PHOTO: Golf NSW)

“The course requires a lot of patience and discipline. I just thought I finished really solidly,” Brereton said.

“It was a nice finish up; seven, eight, nine. I birdied seven, almost birdied eight and birdied nine, which is a great finish. I mean, couldn't ask for anything more coming home.”

Powered by a new mental approach to the game, Higgins will carry in lessons learnt from playing in the final group at the WA PGA in Kalgoorlie last year, while he is looking forward to the opportunity to show off his golf to the expected strong crowds and a TV audience.

“I was a little bit nervous, actually, to start the day, which is good; shows it means something,” Higgins said of Friday’s round playing with the lead.

Adding of his experience in Western Australia alongside Elvis Smylie: “I think I should be able to be just a little better at what my tendencies are under pressure and where my bad thoughts come into play, and there are certain shots I hate hitting.

“So just be mindful of that and the feels I know I can do to negate that, so to speak.”

Brereton is also attempting to focus on one shot at a time, and hoping the tricky conditions remain as he chases a potential berth at the Crown Australian Open at his home course.

“I'm just looking forward to hitting my spots and the challenge of what tomorrow and the next couple of days throw me, which would be good,” Brereton said.

“To be honest, I thought I'd be more disappointed than I am to not to be currently in the [Australian Open] field.

“I am taking everything sort of day by day, obviously. Yeah, home track, Australian Open. Don't get me wrong. I'd absolutely love to be there. Whatever it'll be will be.”

There were plenty of less-positive finishes than the leaders', including Dimi Papadatos, who looked to be headed for the clubhouse lead in the morning before two double bogeys to finish took him back to 2-under. while Herbert was headed for a rest after his disappointing closing stages.

Starting his day with three straight bogeys and another at the fifth before righting the ship with a birdie at the sixth and an eagle at the seventh, the 2024 champion moved further in the right direction with birdies at 14 and 16 before a bogey-bogey finish.

“I am going home to rest. It was a pretty mentally draining day,” Herbert said.

“We are not far out of it … I think it was four shots behind Cam going into the final round last year. So right there in it; I know it's one of those courses where if the wind's going to blow like it does ... ”

The cut fell at 4-over-par, with 14-year-old amateur Jesse Linden set to play the weekend alongside the second albatross maker of the day, Zach Ion, who holed a 5-iron from 199 metres at the 14th on Friday.

There will be five hours of live coverage of both Round 3 and Round 4 from 12 pm - 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo Sports.