Qatar Masters: The form of Henrik Stenson and Nick Dougherty brought two contenders for Europe's Ryder Cup campaign together at the top of the Qatar Masters leaderboard in Doha yesterday.

The big-hitting Swede and the effervescent Englishman are rivals this weekend, and with Stenson two shots clear of Dougherty after round two - and one ahead of Argentinian Ricardo Gonzalez - he finds himself in the driving seat.

But the pair are hoping to line up side by side when it comes to the biennial battle with the United States at the K Club in September.

Having played together on Friday, each had the chance to analyse the other's game at close quarters and Dougherty was most impressed with what he had seen.

He said: "Monty [Colin Montgomerie] is probably going to be first in the team but without a doubt I think Henrik will be in the Ryder Cup team - and I'll take a bet on that if someone offered me.

"He hits the ball such a long way. I'm not short but he hits it to a different ballpark to where I hit it.

"He's putting solidly and he's making some key putts at the right time. He's a good all-round player and has improved so much over the past few years that you can't fault him. It's a pleasure to see him play so well."

Perhaps aware that Dougherty is on course to represent his biggest threat this weekend, Stenson was more reticent, only commenting: "Nick is a very good, steady player. I think he will be up for the challenge."

It is clear, though, that both players will be pushing hard for a spot on Ian Woosnam's team, and a strong result in Doha can only further their cause.

Dougherty had to contend with a nosebleed on the 16th hole, an occurrence an operation a few years ago was meant to have prevented, but while he could stem that flow with a tilt of his head, he is hoping for a dip in Stenson's hitherto impressive week.

The Merseysider was the more consistent around the tight, testing course on day two, recording five birdies and, unlike Stenson who erred on the 17th, no bogeys.

But Dougherty still trails his opponent by two, alongside his countryman Richard Finch, who shot a 68.

Another Ryder Cup contender, Ireland's Paul McGinley, added a 70 to his opening 69 to end the day five shots off the pace. Fellow Dubliner Peter Lawrie's 71 left him on 143, one shot ahead of Meathman Damien McGrane, with Darren Clarke stuttering to a 74 for 145.

Dougherty, meanwhile, is coming to terms with alterations made to his technique over the winter, which has left him a little short of confidence, but no less positive about hunting down the Swede by tomorrow.

The 23-year-old said: "I'm not playing at my best, my confidence is not there with my long game. Even though technically it's correct, it's going to take me a bit of time to get used to the timing of the swing.

"I know that Henrik's probably going to be the man I've got to beat by the end of the week. He's probably the best player in Europe on current form.

"I love playing with good players, I find it raises my game. I can stick with people when I can see them - I've always been that way.

"He's flying at the moment, his confidence is high, he's playing good golf, but I stuck with him and I've put myself in a position to have a good go at him this weekend."

Stenson remains cautiously optimistic about his chances of victory, but was keen to sharpen up his putting.

"I am still not overly happy with my putting so if I keep working on that, step that up a notch, I think I can have a good weekend."

(Irish in bold, Brit unless stated, par 72):

134 - Henrik Stenson (Swe) 66 68.

135 - Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 66 69.

136 - Richard Finch 68 68, Nick Dougherty 69 67.

137 - Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 70 67.

138 - Niclas Fasth (Swe) 68 70.

139 - Paul McGinley 69 70, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 67 72, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 70 69, Graeme Storm 68 71 Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 71 68, Paul Broadhurst 72 67, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 71 68.

140 - Marcel Siem (Ger) 69 71, Thammanoon Srirot (Tha) 71 69, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 72 68, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 68 72, Jean Van de Velde (Fra) 69 71, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 71 69, David Lynn 70 70, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 71 69.

141 - Bradley Dredge 69 72, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 70 71, Adam Fraser (Aus) 72 69, Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 67 74, Andrew Coltart 69 72, Unho Park (Aus) 71 70.

142 - Simon Yates 69 73, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 75 67, Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 73 69, Ernie Els (Rsa) 71 71, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 70 72.

143 - Steve Webster 72 71, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 71 72, Anders Hansen (Den) 71 72, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 71 72, Andrew Buckle (Aus) 71 72, Jarrod Lyle (Aus) 72 71, Peter Lawrie 72 71, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 75 68, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 71 72, Angelo Que (Phi) 71 72, Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 75 68, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 72 71.

144 - Ian Poulter 72 72, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spn) 71 73, Jose Manuel Lara (Spn) 72 72, David Howell 73 71, Vijay Singh (Fij) 73 71, Chris Rodgers 73 71, Damien McGrane 72 72.

145 - James Kingston (Rsa) 77 68, Kenneth Ferrie 75 70, Scott Strange (Aus) 75 70, John Bickerton 73 72, Danny Dennison 67 78, Andrew Oldcorn 71 74, Ignacio Garrido (Spn) 72 73, Simon Dyson 74 71, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spn) 77 68, Darren Clarke 71 74, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 71 74, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 73 72, Anthony Wall 74 71, Miles Tunnicliff 71 74, Gaurav null Ghei (Ind) 72 73.

146 - Jason Dawes (Aus) 73 73, Richard Green (Aus) 73 73, Lee Westwood 69 77, Soren Hansen (Den) 74 72, Gregory Havret (Fra) 69 77, Keith Horne (Rsa) 73 73, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 75 71, Lian-Wei Zhang (Can) 73 73, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 74 72, Barry Lane 74 72, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 74 72, Prom Meesawat (Tha) 73 73, Adam Groom (Aus) 71 75, Paul Lawrie 73 73.