Stephanie Gilmore has staved off a challenge from Australian surfing's "next big thing" as history looks to repeat in El Salvador.
The eight-time world champion charged into a blockbuster semi-final match-up with compatriot Tyler Wright at the lively Punta Roca break on the Central American coast on Monday morning (AEST).
Gilmore (16.87 points) carved out 8.77 and 8.10 point efforts to take down 20-year-old Molly Picklum (14.96) and move within two wins of retaining the El Salvador Pro title.
World No.2 Wright (16.07) was just as impressive in beating Gabriela Bryan in her quarter-final, while top-ranked Carissa Moore looms in the other semi-final.
Like last year, Gilmore snuck under the mid-season cut line and entered the El Salvador event in seventh place.
She won that event and ended the campaign in fifth, before storming through the field on finals day to win an eighth World Surf League title.
Gilmore looked back to that sort of form in beating No.3-ranked Picklum, who she admitted was coming for her crown.
"She's the next big thing, well she's the current big thing in Australia for young women coming through, it's like it's 'all eyes on Molly'," Gilmore said.
"Incredible surfer ... the groms aren't easy to surf against, but they're the best heats.
"I'm stoked I got that one on Molly because she'll probably just start smashing me from here on out."
Liam O'Brien is the lone Australian male standing after two great escapes on the second day of competition launched him into a career-best semi-final showing.
The 24-year-old found a 6.93-point wave with 15 seconds remaining in his round-of-16 heat to knock out compatriot Ethan Ewing, 15.53 to 15.43.
Then, with the swell subsiding and only a handful of surfable waves appearing in the heat's first 25 minutes, he fashioned a 4.87-point ride when Barron Mamiya held priority to sneak into the final four.
The 18th-ranked O'Brien will jump up the standings regardless, but could make huge strides if he continues his run into a first Championship Tour final.
But he'll need to find a way past defending champion and current No.1 Griffin Colapinto, who beat Australia's Connor O'Leary in another high-scoring heat to make the final four.
Hawaii's Ian Gentil and Brazilian Filipe Toledo, sitting third in the rankings, will contest the other semi-final.
