One-armed surfer Bethany Hamilton looms large as world champion Tyler Wright's recent Fiji Pro nemesis as they prepare to meet again in the fourth round.
The inspirational Hamilton handed Australia's Wright the worst defeat of her 2016 world title season when she ousted her in the second round in Fiji last year.
And the American wildcard entry was at it again when she beat world championship co-leader Wright and World No.12 Tatiana Weston-Webb in the first round on Monday (Tuesday AEST).
The loss meant Wright was forced to take the long route to the fourth round - where she will again go head to head with Hamilton for a place in the quarter-finals.
Hamilton, who lost an arm in a shark attack in 2003, was relishing her appearance in a World Surf League event, reaching the fourth round despite finishing last in her non-elimination round three heat after a well-earned second round bye.
"I'm so stoked to be the wildcard," she said. "I watch all the events and all the girls are ripping so much."
Third on the championship standings, Sally Fitzgibbons was the only Australian to earn a quarter-final berth by means of a third round heat win, along with Americans Carissa Moore and Sage Erickson and Frenchwoman Johanne Defay.
Wright, fellow world championship leader Stephanie Gilmore, Nikki Van Dijk and Keely Andrew have the chance to join Fitzgibbons with fourth round victories when the contest resumes.
Gilmore will face American Weston-Webb while Van Dijk and Andrews clash and Courtney Conlogue meets fellow American Lakey Peterson in the other heat.
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