Scot Craig Lee carded a four-under 66, the equal lowest third-round score, to share the Tshwane Open lead with five rivals on Saturday.
South Africans Wallie Coetsee, George Coetzee and Trevor Fisher junior, Englishman David Horsey and overnight leader Spaniard Adrian Otaegui also finished the round with nine-under 201 totals.
And with 15 other golfers within three strokes of the leading pack, the stage is set for a thrilling final round Sunday at Pretoria Country Club.
Lee collected three birdies on each nine, but two front-nine bogeys cost him the outright lead as he hunts a first European Tour triumph.
Fisher, winner of the Africa Open in East London last weekend, recovered from four bogeys in five holes on the outward trek by picking up five birdes to finish with a 69.
Horsey, a three-time European Tour champion, also returned a 69 and Coetsee and Coetzee fared slightly better with a 68 each.
Otaegui, a 22-year-old seeking a maiden European victory, followed up his sizzling second-round 62 with a 72 over the 6,458-metre (7,063-yard) layout.
A two birdie-two bogey front nine was followed by three bogeys and just one birdie on the inward journey.
Recently appointed 2016 Europe Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke carded a 68 for a 206 total and a low final round could bring the Northern Irishman into contention.
But the two previous Tshwane Open winners, defending champion Ross Fisher and Dawie van der Walt, have probably got too much ground to make up.
South African Van der Walt (72) is seven shots adrift of the leaders and Englishman Fisher (74) nine off the pace.
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