Burns and Sainz ready for showdown

Burns has controlled the event since taking the lead on the first of today's stages, maintaining a 4-6s gap to Sainz throughout.

Colin McRae started the day third, but crashed out in a sizeable accident on the morning's first stage.

His demise promoted Tommi Makinen to third, enough to secure his fourth world title in a row if he can hold the position.

He has the advantage of his Mitsubishi team-mate Freddy Loix running directly behind him in fourth. The Belgian appears to finally be back on the pace after his horrendous accident on the Safari Rally in February.

SEAT's chances of getting two cars in the top six were ended when Toni Gardemeister had to go through the longest stage of the day with just two-wheel drive. He dropped from 5th to 17th as a result.

His team-mate Harri Rovanpera has also fallen out of the points, unable to fend off Ford's Thomas Radstrom and the Peugeot of Marcus Gronholm.

At the foot of the top ten, Neal Bates and Yoshihiro Kataoka began the day as the best of the non-works cars, but both would crash out. Group N leader Uwe Nittel moved up to eighth as a result, ahead of Formula Two leader Kenneth Eriksson.

Little should change during the short Langley Park stage later today, so these positions will almost certainly be the order for the final day showdown.

Sunday's stages will be the most spectacular yet, set in the fast and undulating roads around the Bunnings Forest. If Sainz can get ahead of Burns and win the rally, he will secure the Manufacturers' title for Toyota.

Makinen has a much easier task. All he has to do is keep going at his present pace and he will take an unprecedented fourth world championship in a row.

Positions after SS18, Murray Pines 2: