The 27-year-old from Northern Ireland has returned to the European Tour on a full-time basis for 2007 after playing 15 events with mixed success on the PGA Tour in America last year, and will be chasing only his third European success at the Shanghai Silport GC today.

Going into the final round, McDowell lies in a tie for fourth on three under par with South African Richard Sterne and overnight leader Raphael Jacquelin, who never recovered from a disastrous run of three bogeys in the first six holes yesterday on the way to a third-round score of 75.

And McDowell is confident of overcoming the three-shot deficit to leader Markus Brier and adding to wins at the Italian Open in 2004 and the Scandinavian Masters in 2002 with victory in an event which is co-sanctioned by both the European and Asian Tours.

"My game's been in great shape all year, " said the man from Portrush in County Antrim, whose only top-10 finish so far this season came in a tie for fourth place at the Qatar Masters in January.

"I had an okay start to the season and got in good positions but didn't really finish them off.

"But I know I've been playing really well and I'm very content with what I'm doing, " he said.

"For me, it's just a question of patience, I've got to keep playing as well as I am and let the finishes sort themselves out.

"I know what I'm doing around this golf course so let's see what happens."

Brier will partner Scott Hend in the final group after finishing strongly yesterday with three consecutive birdies to shoot an impressive 67 in what proved another testing day for the players as the stiff breeze again changed direction to make low scores hard to come by.

The 38-year-old became the first Austrian to win on the European Tour when he triumphed in his home tournament last June in Vienna but, despite his relative inexperience, feels his advanced years could give him a crucial edge today.

"I'll be a little bit nervous but I've been in this position before and that helps, " Brier said.

"I am a bit more experienced than the other guys so hopefully that will be an advantage."

He added: "Maybe I was a bit slow growing up golf-wise.

"I was late turning professional at the age of 27 and it takes me a bit longer to do things, especially on the mental side of things.

"Technically, I was okay and now my mental approach has got better.

"But the good thing about golf is that age is not a factor."

Brier revealed he would not be changing his approach today either.

"I've learnt the lesson that you can't force anything, " he said.

"I'll go through the same routine as the first three days and hope it is enough."

Hend, one of the longest drivers on tour, is a shot back in second place and revealed a calmer approach to his golf is paying off for the Australian.

"I've been working hard to concentrate more on the process than the outcome, " he said yesterday.

"Today was a good step as it shows what I'm doing is working instead of getting frustrated."

Of the rest of the Irish in the field, Peter Lawrie was at level par after he birdied the last for a 70, while Damien McGrane struggled in his third round.

The 36-year-old looked set to mount a creditable challenge yesterday after moving to three under with a birdie at the eighth, but a bogey five at the ninth pegged the 36-year-old back to even par for the day at the turn.

Disaster then struck on the homeward nine as a run of bogies from the 11th to the 15th effectively ended his hopes.

A six at the first and a seven at the par-four 15th scuppered Gary Murphy's hopes as a round of 73 also left him at three over.