With the second leg of Wales Rally GB having left healthy gaps between the top three runners, the fight for fourth place between Xavier Pons and Jari Matti-Latvala looks to set to be one of the most intruiging battles of the final day in the Welsh forests.

Latvala had started the day in fourth in the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Focus after a strong opening leg, while Pons was embroiled in a battle with Kronos Racing team-mate Dani Sordo for fifth.

However on the opening stage of the day, Pons made his intentions for the day clear as he went quicker than Sordo to take fifth, but also took a large chunk out of Latvala's advantage.

Pons was quicker again on SS8 and SS10 and when he then outpaced the 21-year-old Finn for the fourth time in five stages on the second run through Epynt, Pons took the place and then maintained a slender advantage through to the return to service.

Indeed, with confidence boosted by a solid day, Pons didn't appear too concerned by the fact that Latvala in just four seconds behind going into the final leg and is instead looking forward to Petter Solberg, who is 22 seconds ahead in the final podium place after a troubled day.

“I had a very good feeling all day,” Pons said. “In the afternoon it was raining really hard from the start of stage ten, but luckily my tyre choice was perfect. Unlike yesterday, I had no problems all day. I've got a lot confidence now and I am definitely going to try and catch Petter Solberg in third tomorrow. I think it's possible: this is my big chance.”

However, Latvala remains ready to try and reclaim his position from Pons during the final leg to conclude what has been a fine first drive in the '06 specification Focus – and easily his best performance in a WRC car this season.

With the chance to finish in the top four there for the taking, Latvala insisted he will push to try and get back past the Spaniard, although he added that a finish is important and he will ensure he brings the car to the finish.

“I always knew it was going to be tough to hold on to fourth today, we had Xevi getting close to us this morning and he has a lot more experience than me in this kind of car,” he said. “Of course, I am very happy to be where I am, but I will push for fourth tomorrow. Having said that, if I feel worried about anything, then I will back off – I need the finish.

“The car has been fantastic again and I feel I am getting more and more confident all of the time. I haven't had any problems with the car set-up, that's probably because I'm using a set-up very similar to the one Marcus Gronholm has – and it clearly works for him.”