The 22-year-old has already won both of the first two German stages in Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and is the overriding favourite to triumph yet again on leg three tomorrow after topping qualifying in the Austrian city.

He finished top of today’s standings with jumps of 126.5 metres and 126.2m to score 126.2 points.

Finishing second was Roman Koudelka from the Czech Republic who scored 123.7 points, while Norway's Johann Andre Forgang finished third with 123.5.

Germany's Marcus Eisenbichier, who is currently second in the overall rankings behind Kobayashi after a pair of runners-up finishes, performed poorly today and finished 32nd, although he still qualifies for tomorrow's 50-man final.

"That just happened somehow, but I'm qualified and I don't have to think about this jump anymore," he said.

"Fortunately, this was only the qualification."

As things stand Kobayashi is on track to become only the third man in history to win all four stages of the prestigious Four Hills Tournament.

The last man to do it was Poland’s Kamil Stoch who managed the feat just last season.

Currently he sits down in sixth in the overall standings, however, with the triple Olympic gold medallist and defending World Cup champion finishing today's qualifying in 24th place.

Tomorrow's action will start at 2pm local time.

Every Four Hills event also counts towards the World Cup rankings.