Petter Solberg and Marcus Gronholm look set for a battle royal as they go for second place in the drivers' championship in Australia this week. Subaru's Solberg headed the field after the opening two special stages around Perth on Thursday.
But Peugeot's three-times Rally Australia winner Gronholm was just 0.2secs back in second place.
The pair are locked on 71 points, 56 points behind Citroen's world champion Sebastien Loeb.
Loeb's Belgian team-mate Francois Duval was third in the opening 'shakedown' with the world champion fourth.
 |  If there was an opportunity there with a competitive car then I would definitely consider it |
Britain's Colin McRae was eighth in the Skoda Fabia, 2.3secs off Solberg's pace.
The Scot officially retired at the end of the 2002 season and is competing in just his second rally this season, but admits he could be tempted back.
"It would be good to be back in the right situation and with a competitive car and a chance of achieving a result," said McRae.
"It's very difficult too, after you've been there, to take a step back to something that's not quite so competitive.
"If there was an opportunity there with a competitive car then I would definitely consider it."
Gronholm has the added incentive of wanting to give the Peugoet team a positive send off as they prepare to bow out of the sport.
Peugeot boss Jean-Pierre Nicolas said: "It will undoubtedly be a fantastic battle and I believe we have a very real chance.
"Daniel Carlsson lacks experience of the event, but Marcus Gronholm has always gone very well in Australia, as has the car."
MMIX
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