Otago cyclist Brad Evans will take a 14-second lead over Australian Robbie Hucker into the final day of the Tour of Southland.
Evans (PowerNet) retained his advantage over the 25-year-old Victorian (Barry Stewart Builders) during the 150km fifth stage from Invercargill to Gore on Friday.
Former winner Mike Northey (Kia Motors-Ascot Park) is third overall, 2min 51sec down.
Tired legs were exposed as the field splintered during the first half of the stage and Evans was prominent in the early break.
But it was a subsequent move by Joe Cooper (Avanti Team Racing), Matt Zenovich (Champion Systems Team Dallas) and Nick Bain (Team Skoda Racing) that proved decisive.
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Cooper then launched an attack that pulled him clear and he took the stage with a solo finish.
There will be two stages on Saturday - a 13km individual time trial and an 83km ride from Winton to Invercargill.
If Evans can retain the yellow jersey, he will join inaugural champion Kelvin Hastie (1956) and Gordon McCauley (1996) as Otago winners.
"It's still really tight," he said.
"It's going to come down to who has the better legs on the day."
Evans and Hucker know each other well, having been teammates when Evans won the Tour of Tasmania last month.
"He's a fierce competitor but still a nice guy," Evans said.
"We're definitely rivals at the moment, so I won't be taking anything for granted."
