Maybin and Lawrie in the hunt in Kuala Lumpur

Peter Lawrie and Gareth Maybin go into Sunday’s final round with a realistic chance of winning the Malaysian Open.

The two men are tied for 11th place, five shots off the pace on nine-under par, after Lawrie fired a 67 and Maybin notched up his third consecutive 69 in a sticky Kuala Lumpur.

It now means that the pair will play together tomorrow, alongside teenager Seung-Yul Noh, who lit up the tournament with a first round 62.

Australian Adam Blyth currently leads the way on 14-under after his round of 66 was enough to move him one clear of Wen-Chong Liang of China and Sweden’s Alexander Noren, with England's Miles Tunnicliff among those a shot further back.

It was Lawrie’s back nine that really shot in him into contention. After a solid level par front nine he moved up a gear coming home. Four birdies and an eagle meant the 34-year-old was stood on the 18th tee at ten-under before a closing bogey six dropped him back a shot.

Despite the late blemish the world number 184 is handily placed to attempt to secure his first European Tour win since he made his breakthrough in last year's Spanish Open.

Maybin got off to a hot start, picking up three birdies in his first four holes and another two on the back nine as he posted another 69, largely thanks to missing just two greens in regulation at Saujana Golf Club.

Despite also finishing with a bogey six at the last, the man from Ballyclare has been in solid form all week and will have high hopes of claiming his maiden European Tour victory when he tees it up alongside Lawrie at around 3am GMT on Sunday.

Victory for world No 93 Maybin could earn him enough world ranking points to sneak into the top 64 who qualify for the WGC - Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona in two weeks' time.