Phillip Price and Ian Poulter, who fought it out last season for the final place in Europe's Ryder Cup team, are first and second at the halfway stage of the Victor Chandler British Masters.
Price, though, says he will be disappointed if he does not go on to take the top prize of stg£208,330 on Sunday.
On the 11-under-par mark of 133 he is two strokes clear of Poulter.
Price edged out Poulter for the 10th automatic spot in Sam Torrance's side last September, but has not had a top-10 finish since and was relieved as much as anything to see his form come back.
Poulter out-scored playing partner Colin Montgomerie for the second day running, but has not yet shaken off the Scot, who stands five under after a 69.
Luton's Phil Golding, handily placed at eight under following his 67, has made an amazing 15 trips to the European Tour qualifying school and his total career earnings are little more than this week's winner's cheque.
There were mixed fortunes for the Irish representation, with Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Des Smyth currently at one under par, and Paul McGinley one stroke further back on level par. However, the trio of Eamonn Darcy, Ronan Rafferty and Michael Hoey, seem doomed having scored beyond the projected cut, expected to be one over par.