A hot putter instead of a hot forehead helped Peter Hanson set up the chance of a third successive Swedish European Tour victory as the Mercedes-Benz Masters heads into tomorrow’s final round.

Front-runner Hanson has struggled with fevers and respiratory problems over the last six weeks but proved he was back to full health with a faultless card over the tricky Gut Larchenhof course.

His third round five-under 67 took him through the field to a one-shot lead on an 11-under-par 205.

First round leader Soren Hansen of Denmark (70), South African James Kingston (70) and recent KLM (Dutch) Open winner Simon Dyson (68) of Britain hold second place.

Hanson, who will be trying to follow compatriots Peter Hedblom and Alex Noren into the winner's circle on Sunday, said the key to his round lay with his putter over the front nine.

"I only had 11 putts on my way out, the putter was really working," Hanson told reporters. "That always keeps your momentum going.

"It's a relief to be 100 per cent again. I thought I had swine flu. It really affected my game because I was run down. I played in the U.S. PGA but I should have been taking time off."

Dyson continued his quest for a place in Europe's top 20 for the first time at the end of the season by setting up a chance of a second win in four weeks.

"Confidence of winning breeds confidence," Dyson told reporters. "The best I've ever finished (on the money list) is 21st. Another win tomorrow can take me close to the top 20. I want to start pitting my wits against the best players in the world."

Hansen had double-bogeyed the final hole in the second round but made amends with a birdie on 18 to draw within a stroke of the lead, too.

Late developer Kingston, 43, is trying to add to his sole success, last year's South African Open.

Darren Clarke, on six under, is the leading Irish player in the field with Paul McGinley and Graeme McDowell two shots further back.