Yet while Lehman's opposite number Ian Woosnam has yet to consult the teutonic master, Dane Thomas Bjorn believes that the Welshman will be a more than capable leader at the K Club in just over two weeks' time.

With his hopes of winning the BMW International a fading dream after a third round 71, Bjorn defended Woosnam's seeming inactivity in recent months and predicted that the former Masters champion will be just the man to get Europe fired up.

"It won't be dull, " Bjorn quipped, having just resigned himself to vying with Lee Westwood for a wildcard from the famously pugnacious Welshman today. "But with captaincy, you are only as good a captain as your players and he has a wonderful bunch of players."

The leaderboard certainly bore out Bjorn's views as David Howell could afford to bogey the last for a 66 and still lead by two shots on 14 under par from Padraig Harrington Swede Martin Erlandsson and Colin Montgomerie, with Damien McGrane four shots adrift in a share of seventh place after a 69.

As Bjorn spoke, Harrington posted a faultless eight under par 64 - his lowest round in Europe for three years - to snatch the clubhouse lead before being swiftly joined by Montgomerie on 12 under as the Scot eased round in an equally pristine 66.

Harrington's performance improved Paul McGinley's already rosy chances of making the side today. But the beaming Dubliner was still pleased to be able to do it, remarking: "Of course I'm pleased. He's my partner after all."

McGinley, who has already made plans to see his coach Bob Torrance, who needs only worry now aboutMontgomerie failing to get back from last night's 865-mile flight back from Glasgow, where he jetted to watch his pal Robbie Williams sing live at Hampden Park.

The Scot has only to finish in 47th place to secure the fraction of a world ranking point required to relegate Olazabal to 10th place in the Ryder Cup race, moving McGinley to ninth and leaving the Spaniard vulnerable to a final round charge by Paul Broadhurst.

After a third round 67 left him six shots adrift of second placed Harrington and Montgomerie on six under par, Broadhurst must finish in third place to earn enough to displace the Spaniard - something he reckons may require a unlikely closing 63.

The focus now is on just who Woosnam will choose as his captain's picks with Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood the favourites to be named tonight in many people's eyes.

"It's all down to Woosie and who he thinks is going to improve his team, " Bjorn said.

"Everybody thinks Darren is a certainty and I've said all along that he should play. I think he's a good asset to the team and I hope he's picked.

"Darren is a tough guy, he deals with emotions well. He has dealt with the last few years probably better than any other human being I know.

"He's gone through hell and he's dealt with it very, very well. I wouldn't have any worries about sending him out in as important a match.

"There are probably going to be a few moments at the Ryder Cup that are going to be difficult and Heather will surely be missed there because she was such a big part of the whole thing.

"But knowing Darren as well as I do, I think the Ryder Cup will be a great boost for him and if Darren gets a boost, then he'll be a great boost for the team."

Bjorn based his case for a pick on the fact that he would be the perfect partner for one of the Swedes, such as Robert Karlsson or Henrik Stenson.

"Unfortunately for Woosie, me and Lee both fit that category. We can play golf with anybody, " Bjorn added.

Should Woosnam manage to speak to Langer over the course of the next fortnight, he may well be reminded how well the entire European team was playing in the run up to the matches at Oakland Hills in 2004.

It is a fact that is not lost on Harrington, who recalled: "I remember playing practice rounds in Detroit and it was hard for Bernhard to leave anyone out. It wasn't obvious who was going to line out the first day.

"This time around I'm sure Woosie is hoping for a bit of form shown by all his players coming into the event. It certainly does no harm to have players playing well."

Harrington won the Linde German Masters in Cologne the week before heading to Detroit two years and he has a perfect opportunity now to win in Germany today and go one better than his second place in this event behind John Daly four years ago.

He was certainly pleased with his 64 yesterday and put his somewhat disappointing par-five at the final hole down to "feeling invincible" and bunkering his attacking fiveiron approach.

"I knew I needed to shoot a good score to give myself a chance tomorrow, " Harrington said after failing to convert a 15 footer that would have given him his ninth birdie of the day.

Three of those birdies came from two-putting par fives and one par four, the 320-yard 16th, where he drove the green with a three-wood.

He also holed a 26 yard bunker shot on the 14th.

By moving into contention, Harrington scrapped tenuous plans to travel 135 miles to Stuttgart to watch Ireland play Germany in a European Championship qualifier.

Woosnam will be pleased to see Harrington up there with a chance and as Langer pointed out on Friday, the Welshman has enough experience to be an excellent Ryder Cup captain, even if he hasn't asked for any help so far.

"He's been around a long time, " Langer said. "He's been involved in many Ryder Cups as a player and has seen many captains as a player and he's been vice captain once, so he should know what it takes."

EUROPE: HOW THEY STAND EUROPEAN

RYDER CUP RANKINGS World Points List 1 Luke Donald 235.36 2 Sergio Garcia 225.89 3 Henrik Stenson 214.70 4 David Howell 211.36 5 Jose Maria Olazabal 208.15 6 Colin Montgomerie 207.88 7 Paul Casey 182.81 8 Padraig Harrington 158.05 9 Carl Pettersson 157.71 10 Robert Karlsson 155.86 European Points List 1 Colin Montgomerie 2435883.87 2 David Howell 2314120.06 3 Sergio Garcia 1964354.95 4 Robert Karlsson 1930902.34 5 Henrik Stenson 1916750.86 6 Paul Casey 1915634.51 7 Padraig Harrington 1562823.99 8 Luke Donald 1506818.07 9 Paul McGinley 1499849.20 10 Jose Maria Olazabal 1446006.82 Players in bold qualify, captain has two picks