Aussie Lucas Herbert on the charge in Saudi Arabia

Lucas Herbert has catapulted into contention at LIV Golf Riyadh after firing a brilliant eight-under 64 in the second round.

The Australian was bogey-free as he posted eight birdies in the round of the day on Friday to jump into third position.

Herbert is yet to drop a shot in the season-opening event after carding a blemish-free, four-under 64 in the first round.

The Victorian is now four strokes off overnight leader Adrian Monk (66) and two behind second-placed Sebastian Munoz (66), after storming home with five birdies on the back nine.

A birdie on the last has Herbert, based part-time on Queensland's Sunshine Coast before his switch from the PGA Tour last year, in the mix for a maiden individual LIV title ahead of Saturday's final round.

Poland's Meronk remains two shots ahead of Colombian Munoz after the two maintained their overnight positions atop the leaderboard.

Munoz kept pace on Friday with Meronk, who fired a 62 in the first round and sits at 16-under par heading into the final day.

Legion XIII continues to dominate the team standings. Tyrrell Hatton of England and Caleb Surratt are tied for fourth at 11 under after both shot 67, while captain Jon Rahm of Spain (67) and debutant Tom McKibbin (69) of Northern Ireland are in a tie for sixth at 10 under with Matthew Wolff (66).

That brought Legion XIII's team score to 42 under through two days. Second-place Torque GC is a distant 11 shots behind and Herbert's Australian Ripper GC (28 under) contingent a further three back in third.

Meronk, 31, has won four times on the DP World Tour but is in position for his first LIV title after joining the circuit ahead of the 2024 season.

"It would be special (to win) for sure, especially the first event of the year, as well," Meronk said.

"But I don't want to focus on that. My only focus (Saturday) will be just one shot at a time and playing my best golf as possible, and we'll see what happens."

Munoz, 32, hasn't earned a professional win since the 2019 Sanderson Farms Championship on the PGA Tour.

"It would mean a lot," he said. "I've just got to keep in my lane and see if things happen for me."

There wasn't much separating their Friday rounds. Munoz was bogey-free with six birdies, while Meronk converted seven birdies and limited himself to one bogey.

They won't alter their strategies when they play together in the final round.

"Nothing changes," Meronk said. "I'm just going to try to shoot as low as possible, make as many birdies as possible like I've been doing the last two days and see what happens on the 18th green."

The field is playing under the lights for the first time in order to fit the broadcast window for LIV Golf's new US TV partner, Fox Sports.

"It has its moments where it's pretty challenging," Hatton said of playing at night.

"There's times where it's quite hard to see the back of the ball and judging the lie and how that's going to come out. Sometimes maybe in daylight you might read it coming out as a flier, and at nighttime it's a little bit harder.

"But I think ultimately we've adjusted to it pretty well. I think the fact that the scoring is so low shows that everyone is able to get on with it just fine."

Marc Leishman (67-68) is the next best of the Australian contingent at nine under, while Cameron Smith is at five under after an even-par second round.