Defending champion Des Smyth will go into the final round of the $500,000 Arcapita Seniors Tour Championship one stroke off the lead after a disappointing second round of level par 72 at Riffa Views in Bahrain.

Smyth was joint leader overninight but slipped to third place at the final event of the European Seniors Tour season after two late bogeys on 17 and 18.

He trails South African John Bland and Adan Sowa of Argentina who are both on four-under-par after second rounds of 69 and 71 respectively.

Smyth was a Vice-Captain to Ian Woosnam at The 2006 Ryder Cup in The K Club, and is desperate to complete a memorable year by retaining the title in Bahrain.

"The Ryder Cup in Ireland was an unforgettable experience and I have had a decent year in America, but the one thing that is missing from 2006 is a victory.

"This is my last chance to put that right so it is really frustrating to throw away my lead like I did in the closing two holes," added Smyth, before heading to the range to work on his driving.

Scotland's Martin Gray is in fourth place on two-under par, while the only other players in red figures after two blustery days in the desert are England's Jim Rhodes and Argentine Luis Carbonetti on one-under.

Bland, whose bogey-free 69 was the best of the day, has registered tournament victories all over the world, including two on The European Tour and five on the US Champions Tour, but has yet to breakthrough on the European Seniors Tour - a statistic he hopes to right tomorrow at the age of 61.

"I think I will have to shoot somewhere around 68 to have a chance of winning. If there is no wind I might have to go to six under," he said.