Rory McIlroy and Thomas Bjorn are no strangers to success at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and they are the men to catch going into the weekend after they both carded 65s on Friday.
McIlroy, the US Open champion and world number two, went one better than he did on the opening day of play but once again he left a couple of shots out on the course - the Ulsterman failed to make the most of an eagle opportunity on the 18th and then was unable to hole from five feet on the first.
"I just kept picking up birdies along the way and it puts me in a great position," McIlroy told Sky Sports.
"I feel a lot more confident than I did in Abu Dhabi."
However, Bjorn was not to be outdone in the sun and rattled in four birdies over between holes nine and 13 before closing with back-to-back birdies.
"There's a tricky spell on this golf course, six through nine, and that can really come up and bite you," the popular Dane said, "so you've got to keep your patience because the back nine offers a lot of opportunities."
Overnight leader Rafael Cabrera-Bello is one shot adrift after a 69, while only two behind are world number four Martin Kaymer, whose 67 included his first-ever hole in one at the 186-yard seventh, Scotland's Scott Jamieson and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy.
"It will be a good celebration tonight," the German said, but the prize of a watch goes to his physio under a bet they have every week.