Adam Scott excited for Sunday Open duel

Feasting on birdies and home-made Polish cuisine, Adrian Meronk is out to shatter Adam Scott's Australian Open hopes in a dream Sunday duel with his boyhood idol.

Meronk admits he grew up idolising Scott and can't wait to play the final round with the former world No.1 after the pace-setting pair opened up a gap on the chasing pack on Saturday.

"He's been my role model since I was a child," Meronk said after a course-record-equalling seven-under-par 63 left him just one shot behind the big home hope.

Scott needed an eagle three at the par-5 last for the second day running to wrestle the lead back from Meronk, setting the scene for an intriguing final-round shootout between the two highest ranked players left in the field.

Scott is chasing an elusive second Open victory 13 years after his first.

"Well, I believe I'm going to do it," he said.

"But without using cliches, there's no point thinking about my winner's speech right now. I've got a long way to navigate my round, get around the course.

"But I absolutely believe I'm going to do it. If you don't believe in it, then you won't do it."

Meronk also believes.

And so he should.

The European Tour star's extraordinary blitz on Victoria Golf Club has yielded 19 birdies and an eagle in 40 holes since slumping to four-over midway through his back nine on Thursday.

His liking for Victoria stems from staying three minutes away with his girlfriend's cousins, making Meronk feel "very much" at home.

"It's very handy," Meronk said.

"We've had Polish food for dinner every night. We went to the city yesterday, walked around.

"Yeah, I'm really enjoying the time in Australia, especially in Melbourne."

Scott, too, believes he's ready for any challenge that comes his way down the stretch.

"I've got to go out and do much of the same stuff I did (on Saturday) and, if I get a couple of good numbers and the putts drop, I know when to challenge and when to hold back a little," he said.

Scott's countrymen Min Woo Lee and Haydn Barron share third at seven under, four shots behind the leader.

In the women's event being held simultaneously for the first time, Korean former world No.1 Jiyai Shin is also eyeing a second Open title and holding a one-shot third-round lead.

Shin will tee off at 14 under, with South African Ashleigh Buhai 13 under and Australian Hannah Green 12 under in what looks a three-way battle between the trio of major champions.