Jamie Whincup is in position to claim his fourth V8 championship crown after qualifying fastest for Sunday's race at Winton Motor Raceway.
Team Vodafone's Whincup, seeking to add to his 2008, 2009 and 2011 titles, was 0.02 seconds faster than Will Davison to claim his seventh pole position of the season.
Davison, driving for Ford Performance Racing, had to settle for second spot on the grid, with his team-mate Mark Winterbottom and Craig Lowndes (Triple Eight Race Engineering) third and fourth fastest respectively.
Further down the grid, Tekno Autosport's Jonathon Webb took fifth, followed by Jason Bright of Team BOC Commodore.
If pole-sitter Whincup triumphs in what is the 28th race of the season, he will secure the 2012 championship, with one round of the campaign still to come in Sydney.
The 29-year-old took a major step toward the title with victory in Saturday's race, his 12th win this year earning him a 326-point lead over Winterbottom in the championship standings.