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Rory McIlroy still expects to win the Omega Dubai Desert Classic for the second time, despite his frustration at failing to build a commanding halfway lead on Friday.
Damien McGrane finished in 70 strokes to share third place with Danny Willett at the halfway point.
McIlroy looked back to his brilliant best as he posted a sparkling opening 63, the former World Number One carding seven birdies and an eagle at Emirates Golf Club, the scene of his first European Tour title in 2009.
Eveen if he struggled to a more pedestrian 70 on Friday, the 24 year old's halfway total of 11 under par kept him on top of the leaderboard, one shot ahead of American Brooks Koepka, whose flawless 65 equalled the lowest score of the day.
Willett also shot 65 to share third place on eight under alongside McGrane and France's Julien Quesne, with European Number One Henrik Stenson and defending champion Stephen Gallacher among seven players another shot back after a 67.
World Number One Tiger Woods, playing alongside McIlroy, could only manage a 73 to make the cut with just one shot to spare on three under.
McIlroy dropped his first shot of the tournament on his opening hole on Friday and also hit bad drives at the next two holes, although he did birdie the par five third and, after picking up further shots at the fifth and seventh, admitted he expected to pull away from the field.
"I thought so, yes," McIlroy said. "Making a few birdies on the front nine and turning two under par was a good effort, especially as the wind started to get up.
"I birdied ten, played 11 and 12 okay but then missed that little one (a par putt from inside two feet) on 13, had a chance on 15 and didn't convert and made bogey on 16, but it was nice to birdie the last and at least give myself a one shot lead going into tomorrow.
"I will just go back tonight and regroup and realise that I am still leading the tournament. I hit a couple of loose drives which I haven't done the last couple of weeks but I still feel like I'm playing well enough to go and win the tournament."
Asked if he expected to claim his sixth European Tour title on Sunday, McIlroy added: "I do. I am leading the tournament, I've been in this position before and went on to win.
"I have led from the front quite well in tournaments that I have won. I feel like I am still playing well, I know the course as well as anyone else and I expect to go out there and shoot two good scores over the weekend and hopefully lift the trophy."
Stenson could well be one of McIlroy's biggest challenger after the Swede continued his excellent recovery from being three over par after five holes on Thursday.
"I think there is still a little way to go but today was the best I have putted for a long, long time," said Stenson, who became the first man to win the FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai in the same season in 2013.
"I was threatening on every putt and kept the score together with no bogeys, which is always a good sign."
Willett began the week in unusual fashion with a charity skydive, but joked that the terrifying experience might have put golf's worries firmly into perspective.
"It was a different way to start the week, but if you are standing on the first tee trying to hit a drive onto the fairway it seems a little less nerve-racking than jumping out of a plane at 13,000 feet, so it might have prepared me quite well," the 26 year old said.
"As soon as you jump out you think 'What are we doing?', but after that you level out and start to feel like you are just floating down and it's unbelievable."
Speaking about his round of eight birdies and one bogey, which started at 0715 local time, Willett added: "A half-four alarm is never great but it's a great time to play golf in the desert.
"The back nine is the scoreable nine and I was really, really clinical, didn't miss a green, hit a couple of par fives in two and it was a real easy six under. The front nine gets a little trickier with the breeze and the doglegs but all in all it's two good days' work."
Michael Hoey dropped back to 58th place, but one shot inside the -2 cut line, with a second 72.
Shane Lowry misses the weekend by one after a second round 73 on Friday left him -1.
Gareth Maybin carded a 73, Simon Thornton 71 and Peter Lawrie 73 to also fail to earn weekend playing rights.
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