After the first three stages of an annual Tournament that forms part of the International Ski Federation Ski Jumping World Cup circuit, Poland’s individual normal hill world champion has 830.7 points and leads Norway’s Marius Lindvik - ninth in qualifying today - by the healthy margin of 9.1 points.

Karl Geiger of Germany, who finished 16th in today’s qualifying at at Paul-Ausserleitner-Schanze, is third, 13.3 points adrift.

Kubacki has established himself with consistency rather than brilliance, finishing third in the first two legs in Germany, at Oberstdorf on December 29 and Garmisch-Partenkirchen on January 1, before taking second place behind Lindvik at Innsbruck yesterday.

Lindvik, who also won in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, remains cautiously optimistic.

"I really found my shape here during the Four Hills Tournament and I hope I can continue this way in Bischofshofen," the Norwegian said after his most recent win.

"It's fun to look at the overall ranking now, but it's a large gap between me and Dawid Kubacki.

"I try not to think that much about the overall title, but the chance is there now."

Today’s qualifying was topped by home jumper Stefan Kraft, who totalled 150.8 points ahead of Japan’s Daiki Ito, who scored 150.7.

Third on 150.4 was Poland’s triple Olympic champion Kamil Stoch, who became the second man to win all four stages of this Tournament in 2017-2018.

Japan's Ryoyu Kobayashi, who became only the third man to win all four stages of the Tournament last year and won the opening contest this season in Oberstdorf, qualified sixth with 148.8 points. 

Just 0.4 points behind Geiger in fourth place overall, Kobayashi still has an outside chance of glory tomorrow.