SYDNEY (REUTERS) - Local favourite Brett Rumford shot a four-under-par 68 in the third round of the inaugural World Super 6 in Perth to claim the top seeding for Sunday's final round match play knockout.

The Australian hit seven birdies, one bogeys and one double-bogey at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club to move to 17-under and ensure a place in the last-16 on the final day along with seven other players.

Former 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, who hit a brilliant eagle at the par-four 13th, was also among the top-eight after shooting a 67 to join Jason Scrivener, Austin Connelly, Adam Blyth, Lucas Herbert and Steven Jeffress at 12-under after 54 holes.

Jake Higginbottom became the sixth Australian in the top-eight, taking the place on countback, after firing a 66.

After the usual three rounds of stroke play, the event will end on Sunday with 24 players competing at match play in six-hole play-offs until only the champion remains.

"You are playing an opponent one-on-one, so you have to take note of their mistakes, errors and, you know, the pressures good shots will put on you," Rumford told reporters.

"It's an internal battle but also a physical one. So yeah, it's tough match play," said the Perth native whose five-shot lead would now count for nothing as the tournament switches to match play.

The top-eight received byes into second round of Sunday's match play shootout with players finishing ninth to 24th facing off in the first round of the A$1.75 million (S$1.9 million) tournament, tri-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia, Asian Tour and European Tour.