Rankings leader Jack Robinson is through to the quarter-finals of Hawaii's Sunset Beach along with fellow Australian Ethan Ewing, who eliminated American legend Kelly Slater.
Chasing back-to-back titles to open the World Surf League season, Robinson overcame Leo Fioravanti in the round of 16 after also beating the Italian in the final at last week's Billabong Pro at nearby Pipeline.
With a big swell arriving at Sunset, West Australian Robinson posted a two-wave total of 14.33 including an impressive score of 8.00, while Fioravanti tallied 13.83.
"We've been having those battles since we were like 10-years-old and never give each other an inch," said Robinson, who ended last year as world No.3.
"It actually fires me up to go surf him and it was super cool because it was so good today so I'm just happy to get the job done."
Robinson's next challenge is American Nat Young, who shocked local hero John John Florence, who was battling illness.
Ewing, who made the semi-finals of the Hurley Pro last year, knocked out 11-time world champion Slater in a dominant display.
The Queenslander, who was ranked world No.4 at the end of 2022, looked right at home with a combined score of 13.83.
Slater, 51, needed a low eight in the final minutes to edge ahead but the winning wave never arrived, settling with a score of 9.67.
Ewing had faced Slater twice before with this his first triumph.
"I always loved having heats with him, it's always interesting just to see what he does and stuff," the 24-year-old said.
"It feels really good to get one over him finally."
Ewing will next face rising American star Griffin Colapinto, who upset three-time world champion, Brazil's Gabriel Medina.
Meanwhile Newcastle's Jackson Baker suffered heart-break in his round of 32 match-up with Japan's world No.5 Kanoa Igarashi.
Baker held the lead with just over a minute left on the clock before Igarashi pulled out a wave score of 7.37 to win the heat by just 0.07.
Other Australian casualties on Thursday included Ryan Callinan, Callum Robson and Liam O'Brien.
The women's event remained on hold with all six Australian women, including reigning world champion Stephanie Gilmore and last week's runner-up Tyler Wright, still in the hunt.
