Adam Scott says jumping out of the blocks early is key but he has a great chance to complete the greatest comeback win in Masters history.
Chasing a second green jacket, Australian Scott is well-placed, only three shots behind the joint leaders, England's Justin Rose and Spain's Sergio Garcia, going into a mouth-watering final round at Augusta National
The 2013 winner fought his way into contention with a three-under-par 69 on Saturday as Rose shot 67 and Garcia 70 to lead at six under.
World No.8 Rickie Fowler (71) is one shot behind the leaders while No.6 Jordan Spieth (68) and fellow Americans Ryan Moore (69) and Charley Hoffman (72) share fourth place at four under.
The 36-year-old Scott can make history by smashing the Masters comeback record after being 10 shots behind the leader, Hoffman, following the first round.
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Nick Faldo (1990) and Tiger Woods (2005) currently share the record after winning from seven shots back after round one.
Scott says his position back of the leaders is an advantage and gives him a chance to heap pressure on the front runners, especially with the Sunday back nine cruelling many a Masters contender.
Only last year, Spieth held a five-shot lead on the ninth hole lead before carding a quadruple-bogey seven at the par-3 12th, handing England's Danny Willett the title.
"It's a cliche at the Masters, but it all starts on the back nine," said Scott.
"I feel I have a little advantage; sneaking up on (the leaders) on the front nine and only deal with nine holes of pressure."
Scott says he'll take confidence in coming from behind when he ended Australia's 77-year winless hoodoo at Augusta four years ago.
"I'm plenty close. I was (one behind) when I won here," said Scott.
"There are great players in front and I'm going to have to have the round of the year. But I'm playing really well tee to green and feeling good on the greens."
Scott, whose 15 previous starts at Augusta include a win and four top-10s, singled out 2015 Masters winner Spieth as the man to beat on Sunday.
"I firmly believe past champions here develop a level of comfort. (Augusta) has this way of looking after some of the past champions," said Scott.
"Jordan Spieth is a huge threat for this tournament and certainly one guy I look at immediately."
At 4.15am (AEST) in the fourth-last group, Scott is paired with South Africa's Charl Schwzartzel - who overhauled Scott and others to win in 2011.
Next best of the Australians is Jason Day, who mounted a comeback with a third round 69, but at three over conceded his shot at a maiden Masters title may be out of reach.
"The first two days kind of put me out of it and today was a good round to get myself kind of back to good form," said Day.
Amateur world No.1 Curtis Luck fell back in the race for low amateur honours, handing three shots back with a 75 to finish 54 holes at nine-over.
The Perth 20-year-old's only competition for the Masters silver medal is American amateur Stewart Hagestad, who signed for a 74 to drop to five over.
Also on nine over is Marc Leishman, who crashed out of contention with four back-nine bogeys en route to a 78.
