R3 LEADERBOARD SA unless stated -7 R Goosen -4 E Els -3 D Fichardt, R Fisher (Eng) -2 L Oosthuizen, K Horne, M Eliasson (Swe) Selected others: +4 O Whiteley (Eng), J Rose (Eng), D Lynn (Eng) Clubhouse scores

World number four Goosen and Els, ranked fifth, carded three-under 69s on Saturday to reach seven and four under par respectively.

Playing alongside the great rivals on Sunday will be fellow South African Darren Fichardt, four off the lead.

Overnight leader Ross Fisher of England struggled on the back nine but birdied the last to finish alongside Fichardt.

Goosen, who beat Els in a head-to-head tussle in 1995 to win his only South African Open title, finished birdie-birdie.

Minutes earlier Els, who had opened with a three-over 76, holed a 20ft putt for birdie at the par-five 18th to ensure his place in the final group on Sunday.

It will be special tomorrow for the crowd and the tournament and it will be like a major for us Ernie Els

The 36-year-old is chasing back-to-back wins after last week's victory in the Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek. That victory came in only his second appearance after a four-month break following knee surgery.

"It will be great to play with Retief because it looks like he's playing very well," said Els.

"We were together in '95 at Randpark when he didn't let up and beat me by quite a few shots.

"It will be special tomorrow for the crowd and the tournament and it will be like a major for us."

The 25-year-old Fisher endured a horrible run after the turn, dropping six shots in seven holes. But the former England amateur international responded well to pick up a shot at the last with his fourth birdie of the round.

On a good day for local talent, defending champion Tim Clark bagged three birdies in the last five holes to give himself an outside chance of victory at one under.

But English trio David Lynn, Justin Rose and Oliver Whiteley are well off the pace at four over.