Swede Robert Karlsson, looking for his second win in the event, will take a two-shot lead into tomorrow's final round of the BMW International Open.
The Swede, who won after a playoff in Munich in 1997, birdied the last to maintain his overnight advantage, carding a one-under-par 71 in today's third round to move to 16 under par overall.
Four players share second place on 14-under - Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin, Germany's Marcel Siem and Britons Brian Davis and Gary Evans.
Britain's former European number one Lee Westwood is in a group a further stroke back and still in contention for his first victory in 67 tournaments since he won the Belgian Open late in 2000.
Paul McGinley, Ireland's only remaining representative in the Munich BMW Open, recovered from a poor start to his third round to eventually card a 70 and move to 11 under par.
The Dubliner's card was marred by two bogies on the front nine but he recovered with four birdies on the way in to leave himself five shots off the lead.
Karlsson claimed his fourth eagle of the week when he chipped in from the back bunker on the long 11th to regain his two-shot advantage after dropping shots on the sixth and seventh.
But the 33-year-old Swede reduced the gap again when he bogeyed the 16th and needed his birdie at the last to maintain a two-shot cushion.
"It was a much more difficult day, windy, after a couple of easy days," he said.
"You feel you should shoot 67 or 66 but it wasn't that easy.
Karlsson is again hitting form at this time of year, a week away from defending his European Masters title in Switzerland. "It seems to be my time of year," added the Swede.
"But I also came here with good memories because of winning here before and suddenly I'm right up there.
Only five strokes separate the top 16 players at a Nord Eichenried course renowned for low-scoring.
Among those well placed is Westwood who has spent two years in the wilderness since becoming European number one in 2000 but now looks to be turning the corner.
Westwood could have been much closer to the lead had he managed to convert more birdie chances.
The Ryder Cup player, back to using the 'belly putter' that has helped him find more success, said: "I'm there or thereabouts and it's good to be in contention again.
He has sunk to 215th in the world having at one stage risen as high as four.
Davis is another threat. The Englishman has had eight top-10 finishes this year, including two second places and a sixth in the British Open and holds 13th place on the European money-list, despite not winning this year.
Evans, Siem and Jacquelin seek their maiden European Tour titles.
Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, winner of the event in 2000 and last year, lies four strokes off the pace, but the tournament favourite, European number one and world number two Ernie Els, trails Karlsson by 13 strokes after an error-strewn 74.