Starting the day with a two shot lead over Lachlan Barker, Wood made bogey at the par-3 2nd for the second straight day to drop his advantage to one over the South Australian. Birdies at 4, 6 and 9 against another bogey at the par-4 7th saw Wood turn in one-under to sit at 10-under with a two shot lead restored over Barker.

But as the clouds rolled in and rain threated to lash Royal Port Moresby, Wood couldn’t manage anything but pars for seven straight holes.

“I think I had seven birdie opportunities on the back nine from no more than 12-15 feet and missed them all, apart from one on 17,” Wood said. “So it was frustrating on the back nine, but to take some positives away, played well, and hopefully the putts will drop tomorrow.”

The one putt that did drop for the 32-year-old on the way home for birdie at 17 was negated by a bogey at the par-3 last when he pulled his tee shot well left and the subsequent chip ran past the hole up against the fringe of the 18th green.

Signing for a one-under 71, Wood will be looking to add another PGA Tour of Australasia title to his resume after winning the Vic PGA in 2021 to go with his pro-am wins that number in the teens.

RIGHT: Lachlan Barker is one back and chasing a first PGA Tour of Australasia win. PHOTO: Jimmy Emanuel.

Once he had sorted out his number one concern on Saturday evening “Air con and a feed”, he planned to see how things stood throughout the final round and play accordingly.

“I will try to keep my tail in front on the front nine, and as the saying goes the tournament doesn’t start till the back nine on Sunday,” he said. “I’ll see where I am sitting after nine, if I’ve got a bit of a lead or tied or whatnot, but I’ll keep doing what I am doing and hopefully I’ll be on top coming down 18.”

Similarly hoping to be the man in front on the 72nd hole on Sunday, Barker is chasing a first Tour win and relishing the chance to go head-to-head with Wood, the pair holding a four and three shot advantage of third place Ryan Peake at six-under. Six players one back of the West Australian in T4.

“I have that to look forward to tomorrow, the opportunity to go low and chase down Chris which will be fun,” Barker said.

"It was frustrating on the back nine, but to take some positives away, played well, and hopefully the putts will drop tomorrow.” - Chris Wood.

The 24-year-old confident that any nerves he may have about being in contention won’t affect his rest after a third straight day in the hot and humid conditions of the Papua New Guinean capital, where the rain finally hit moments after the final putt had dropped.

“I am going to sleep sound as a baby,” Barker said with a smile on Saturday evening.