Alvaro Quiros stole the spotlight from Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy with an eight-under-par 64 to lead the Dubai World Championship by four strokes at the midway point.
The focus was firmly on world number one Donald and rival McIlroy coming into the season-ending tournament.
Englishman Donald is bidding to become the first man to top both the US PGA and European Tour money lists for earnings in a single season.
World number two McIlroy must win the event at the Jumeirah Golf Estates if he is to prevent Donald from achieving the feat.
But they were both outshone by Quiros on Friday, as the Spaniard carded a blistering 64 to take a four-shot lead going into the penultimate round.
A five-time winner on the European Tour, Quiros holed six birdies and an eagle three at the last, while going bogey-free for his second round in the United Arab Emirates.
The 28-year-old has pedigree in the region - he won the Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club in February.
Overnight leader Peter Hanson of Sweden slipped from first to outright second after posting an even-par 72 on Friday.
McIlroy carded a one-under 71 to share third alongside Englishman Robert Rock.
The pair are seven under for the tournament, five shots behind Quiros.
Donald's four-under 68 was an improvement on his opening-round 72, but still leaves him tied for 12th, eight shots off the pace.
Former champion, England's Lee Westwood, carded a three-under 69 to hold a share of 22nd, two-under par overall.