The world's best surfers will battle it out at the Margaret River Pro this week, and organisers will be fighting a battle of a very different kind out of the water as they attempt to keep the WA event afloat.
The Margaret River Pro is in danger of losing its top-flight status at the end of this year as the World Surf League considers axing one of Australia's three surf legs.
If the WSL does cut one of Australia's events, the Margaret River Pro appears the most vulnerable.
Victoria's Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach is steeped in history, while the Quicksilver Pro on the Gold Coast also appears to be safe.
The Margaret River Pro was only elevated to championship tour status for women in 2013 and men in 2014.
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But with the Championship Tour contract to expire at the end of this year, organisers of the WA event are scrambling to secure its future.
Comeback kid Owen Wright enters this year's Margaret River Pro aiming to continue his fairytale story following his inspiring victory in the season-opening tour event on the Gold Coast.
Wright missed all of last year with a serious brain injury, but he prevailed in his return to the sport with a tight win over good friend Matt Wilkinson in the final at Snapper Rocks.
Wright will go up against countryman Connor O'Leary and Brazilian Ian Gouveia in his opening heat. Wilkinson will take on Miguel Pupo and Jack Freestone.
Six-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore enters the Margaret River Pro with the No.1 ranking following her victory on the Gold Coast.
Gilmore has never made it past the semi-finals of the Margaret River Pro, and she'll face stiff competition in the form of 2016 WSL Champion Tyler Wright and three-time WSL champion Carissa Moore.
Wright won last year's Margeret River Pro, beating American Courtney Conlogue in the final.
Huge surf is expected for the first few days, with the main draw to start on Wednesday.
Margaret River Pro Men's Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA), Mick Fanning (AUS), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
Heat 2: Kolohe Andino (USA), Stuart Kennedy (AUS), Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
Heat 3: Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Jack Freestone (AUS)
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Kanoa Igarashi (USA), Nat Young (USA)
Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), Jesse Mendes (BRA)
Heat 6: John John Florence (HAW), Frederico Morais (PRT), TBD
Heat 7: Owen Wright (AUS), Connor O'Leary (AUS), Ian Gouveia (BRA)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Caio Ibelli (BRA), Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 9: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 10: Michel Bourez (PYF), Conner Coffin (USA), Joan Duru (FRA)
Heat 11: Julian WIlson (AUS), Josh Kerr (AUS), Bede Durbidge (AUS)
Heat 12: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Sebastian Zietz (HAW), Ethan Ewing (AUS)
Margaret River Pro Women's Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Johanne Defay (FRA), Malia Manuel (HAW), Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
Heat 2: Courtney Conlogue (USA), Sage Erickson (USA), Coco Ho (HAW)
Heat 3: Tyler Wright (AUS), Keely Andrew (AUS), TBD
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Nikki Van DIjk (USA), Bianca Buitendag (ZAF)
Heat 5: Carissa Moore (HAW), Lakey Peterson (USA), Pauline Ado (FRA)
Heat 6: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW), Silvana Lima (BRA)
