The final round of the weather-disrupted Volvo Masters is shaping up for a titanic battle between co-leaders Fredrik Jacobson of Sweden and Carlos Rodiles of Spain.
The pair ended round three six strokes clear of the field at 10-under-par 206, Rodiles having drawn level with the Swede by holing a 25-foot birdie putt from just off the edge of the green at the last.
The 28-year-old Spaniard, chasing his maiden professional title, carded a three-under-par 69 while Jacobson, who set the pace on the opening day with a brilliant 64, returned a 71.
"It's set up nicely," Rodiles told reporters. "We are both playing well and it's been a real roller-coaster. I make a few birdies and he makes a few birdies."
Although the tournament has effectively become a two-man race, Jacobson said he expected one of the other challengers to produce a low score in the benign conditions at Valderrama.
"I shot a 64 on the first day, so someone else can do it this afternoon," said the Swede. "It's very possible with the weather so much better. We just have to concentrate and get on with seeing what we can do."
Rodiles had led the European Tour's season-ending event by two strokes when dusk ended play on Saturday with six holes still to play. But the Spaniard surrendered his advantage with bogeys at 13 and 16 after the lead group had resumed the third round in bright sunshine at Valderrama.
Malaga professional Rodiles bogeyed his first hole of the morning, the par-four 13th, after finding the left rough off the tee, and three-putted at the par-four 16th to slip back to nine under overall.
Jacobson, who had strung together four successive pars, then forged one clear when he hit a low pitch to just two feet to birdie the treacherous 536-yard 17th.
But Rodiles hit back at the last, curving a superb approach from left to right to just short of the green to set up his sixth birdie of the round. The 29-year-old Jacobson, twice a winner on this season's European Tour could only par the hole after his own approach ended up in the left greenside rough.
Hansen, the third member of the lead threeball, dropped one shot in the last six holes on his way to a one-over-par 73, finishing in third place at four-under 212. Next best at three under were the British trio of John Bickerton, after a 70, Brian Davis (69) and Greg Owen (73).
No play had been possible on Friday due to heavy rain and strong winds, but organisers were confident they would be able to complete the full 72 holes without needing a Monday finish. Thirty players in the elite field of 56 still had to complete the third round on Sunday.
Among the big names in the draw, twice Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal returned a 70 to share seventh spot at one-under 215, along with fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia (73).
Also at one under after firing a 70 was defending champion Colin Montgomerie, who shared last year's title with Bernhard Langer after they had squared the first two extra holes in gathering gloom.
Darren Clarke, who finished second behind Ernie Els in this season's European order of merit, was the best of the Irish but still languished 11 strokes off the lead at one over, having carded a third-round 68.
Padraig Harrington (+3), Paul McGinley (+7), Peter Lawrie (+8) and Gary Murphy (+12) are unlikely to trouble to leaderboard.