Australian Joel Parkinson will have to starve off giant-killing American Tanner Gudauskas to reach his first final in two years in the World Surf League at Lower Trestles in California.
Parkinson came from behind to defeat Brazilian Alex Ribeiro, riding waves of 8.27 and 6.50 in the final five minutes of their quarter-final to book his place in the semi-finals with a winning margin of 2.38 in swells of more than 1m.
He will now need to turn the tables on Gudauskas who has already beaten him in a non-elimination fourth-round heat earlier in the contest.
Surfing at his first top-tier event in two years, Gudauskas also put paid to fellow Australian Stuart Kennedy's tournament hopes when he beat him in their quarter-final.
Kennedy was never in the contest after Gudauskas' opening ride of 8.90, and Kennedy's eventual combined two-wave score of 9.17 was well short of his opponents' 15.13..
Gudauskas also knocked out Brazilian world No.3 Gabriel Medina in the third round, and is yet to drop a heat in the competition.
South African world No.6 Jordy Smith will take on Brazil's Filipe Toldeo in the other semi-final.
Toledo shocked 11-time world champion Kelly Slater in their quarter-final, just weeks after the American had recorded two perfect 10s in the final at Tahiti.
Josh Kerr was the only other Australian in action on Monday (Tuesday AEST), however he was knocked out by Kennedy.
