Playing alongside Donald in the penultimate qualifying event at Albatross Golf Resort, MacIntyre carded an opening 66 and Bjork went one better with a 65 to share second place, two shots behind pacesetter Sami Valimaki.

Nicolai Hojgaard and Ludvig Aberg, who had been placed in the same group as vice-captain Francesco Molinari, carded rounds of 65 and 68 respectively.

Yannik Paul shot a 66, matched by Molinari's brother Edoardo, his playing partner for the first two rounds and another vice-captain.

Donald admitted on Wednesday the identity of his six wild cards was giving him sleepless nights, but he can only have been encouraged by the form of those trying to make the case for selection.

MacIntyre holds the third and final automatic qualifying place on the European points list and a victory in Prague, coupled with none of his rivals finishing in the top-five, would seal his place in the side.

"We're getting close (to the Ryder Cup) but I'm just trying to focus, like I have done all season." - Alexander Bjork.

"I'm delighted with the round," MacIntyre said after a bogey-free 66.

"I was hoping for that after last week (when he missed the cut in Northern Ireland).

"I played just to try and get the rust off because I knew how important these two weeks were. I felt like I drove it well, iron play was good and I putted decent.

"I've got a lot on my mind, a lot going on and I've just got to keep fighting."

Bjork – 20th on the European list – also kept his card bogey-free and finished with four straight birdies in front of Donald, who’s own 71 was marred by a double bogey six on the 8th – his penultimate hole.

"It was really fun," Bjork said.

"Luke is a great player and a player I looked up to when I was younger. It was fun playing with him.

"We're getting close (to the Ryder Cup) but I'm just trying to focus, like I have done all season, on what I should do with my game. I'm still doing that and that's what I should do."