But Clarke has been in fine form at the Shanghai Pudong Golf Club, improving on each round’s score and returned to the clubhouse today with a five-under-par 67 to go nine under overall.

It gives him a one-stroke advantage over Robert-Jan Derksen and while he could be forgiven for feeling nervous about his current position, Clarke is instead itching to get back out on the course tomorrow.

“I am really looking forward to it,” said the 2006 Ryder Cup star

“It has been a while. I was in contention a couple of times at the start of the season but it has been a while since I led and I just hope I can continue doing what I am doing.

“I’ll just go out tomorrow and play as well as I can and hopefully I’ll be good enough but if not I’ll battle on next week.”

Clarke is playing in China for the first time in his career but has been in fine fettle on the course with his putting having been particularly impressive.

And though he has improved upon his score in each of his three rounds so far he is refusing to make any predictions about the outcome of tomorrow.

Clarke added: “When you come to a new course it takes you a few days to learn where you can and can’t miss shots and where you can get away with things and that is part and parcel of tournament venues.

“Most of the places we go to I have been there before but this is new to me so I am learning the course a bit.

“That is not to say I will shoot a 65 tomorrow but I would like that.

“I was putting pretty good. I missed twice from three foot for birdies on two par fives but overall I hid a lot of really good putts so I am pleased.”

Also enjoying a good week in Shanghai is Robert Dinwiddie after the European Tour rookie carded a six-under-par 66 today and is seven-under-par overall.

The 25-year-old Briton shot an impressive eight birdies while his only blot on his scorecard was a double bogey on the par-four seventh.

Dinwiddie missed the cut at the Volvo China Open last week and he admitted his form over the last two week sums up the way he has played so far this season.

“That is how my year has been so far,” he said. “Week to week I am just trying as hard as I can to play as well as I can. Some weeks it has not been going right and others have been better.

“There is not a lot of difference. Maybe I am putting better and giving myself more chances but I am just trying to hit every shot as well as I can.”

Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei is four strokes off the lead at five under-par overall after carding a three-under-par 69.

World number 13 Henrik Stenson finished his round level par after carding four birdies and two double bogeys and is even par overall while defending champion Raphael Jacquelin was back in the clubhouse at five over par overall after carding 74 today.