Australia's world champion Molly Picklum is set to face surfing's current toughest test -- trying to end teenage Canadian star Erin Brooks' record-breaking win streak in the World Surf League.
Picklum, who's now lying third in this year's standings as the season enters its business end at Rip Curl Portugal on Peniche's celebrated Supertubos beach, looked in fine form on Friday as she reached the quarter-finals in a high-quality heat against local Portuguese hope Yolanda 'Yoyo' Hopkins Sequeira.
It's set up a much anticipated last-eight clash with the 19-year-old phenomenon Brooks, who at last month's Trestles Pro in California became the first surfer to claim three-straight world championship tour event triumphs since Australia's eight-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore did it in 2008.
After the 'threepeat', Brooks demonstrated she's in the mood to make it four in a row on one of the best beach breaks in Europe as she comfortably defeated another former Australian world champ Tyler Wright in their heat, 12.50 points to 7.27, to extend her landmark streak to 15-straight wins.
The Texas-born, Hawaiian-raised teen Brooks admitted she couldn't credit her remarkable sequence, which has also taken in victories at the Tahiti Pro and Fiji Pro. "I can't believe it - I've had so many close calls and mistakes," she said.
But the 23-year-old Gosford star Picklum, who she beat in the Trestles Pro at the surfing venue for the LA Olympics, remains her toughest hurdle.
"That's going to be super fun," Brooks said of their quarter-final. "Molly surfed so good in her last heat, so if we have the same conditions tomorrow, we're going to have a great show."
Indeed, Picklum was the highest women's scorer on the day riding on receptive waves, defeating Hopkins 15.74 to 11.10 but still getting a bit of a scare when the Portuguese produced a brilliant nine-point run when seemingly down-and-out.
"My score kind of felt small, against Yoyo dropping nines on me. I was like '15's not enough points against her'," said Picklum, who moved up to third in the live rankings behind the Hawaiian duo of five-time world champ Carissa Moore and Gabriela Bryan thanks to her day's efforts.
"It's just so sick to see Supertubos doing its thing and just such good conditions. It's been a rough year for us scoring on the WSL and today is what we live for, days like this when conditions are great and it's just shoot-outs. It's been absolutely beautiful."
In the men's event, it proved a mixed day for the Australian challenge with Morgan Cibilic, a couple of days before his 27th birthday, and Ethan Ewing both progressing to the quarter-finals, while there were early exits for Callum Robson, Jack Robinson, George Pittar and Liam O'Brien.
Ewing, who's moved up to seventh as the leading Aussie in the live men's rankings, was particularly impressive, racking up 15.73 points in his victory over local Frederico Morais (11.17).
His winning tally was only topped by the imperious American Griffin Colapinto, rider of the day with his 17.17 compiled in a duel with Frenchman Kauli Vaast (13.27).