Citroen says there won't be team orders on Rally New Zealand

The pair are split by just four seconds, but they are a minute and a half clear of third placed Evgeny Novikov.

Matton admitted he remains concerned by Ford driver Petter Solberg, who is 1m39.3s behind leader Loeb, due to the rain expected overnight on Saturday.

"We know that Petter has some soft tyres left," said Matton, "and we know that this can cause some problems for us on Sunday if the weather is so wet as it looks like it will be.

"We cannot tell the drivers just to stay where they are and then watch the Fords come, they have to keep pushing, so, yes for now they race. What I say to them is that I want to have the two cars at the finish of the rally."

Hirvonen admitted he relished the chance to go up against his team leader tomorrow.

"It's good that Yves said this," said Hirvonen, "because I have good confidence with the car and I am feeling really good about today.

"I would say I have never had such a good car as that through the last part of Whaanga Coast stage, it was fantastic. Let's see what can happen tomorrow."