Australia’s Olympic trio Jack Robinson, Ethan Ewing and Molly Picklum have skipped the sudden-death stage in the Fiji Pro as they look to lock down a spot in the World Surf League Finals.

After two lay days, surfing in the last regular tour stop got under way at Cloudbreak, with the men’s competition hitting the water on Thursday morning, followed by the women.

Only the top five in each field will qualify for the WSL Finals at Lower Trestles in California next month.

Paris silver medallist Robinson is ranked third while fellow Olympian Ewing is fifth, with a number of surfers within reach of his spot including three-time world champion Gabriel Medina, of Brazil.

Robinson took out Queenslander Ewing in a high-quality quarter-final in the Olympic competition in Tahiti’s Teahupo’o earlier this month.

But the Australians gave themselves every chance of holding their positions with heat wins to move directly into the round of 16.

West Australian Robinson posted a two-wave score of 11.00 to send compatriot Ryan Callinan, on 10.83, to the elimination round.

Ewing demonstrated his consistency in his heat, with his best scores of 6.17 and 5.87 giving him the win over American Cole Houshmand and Hawaii’s Seth Moniz.

“It was a pretty scrappy heat to be honest,” said 25-year-old Ewing.

“We had a lot of current coming down the point so we couldn’t really get to the good spot, but it worked out in the end for me, so I’m happy.

“I’m just trying to put on good performances and try to enjoy it.”

World No.1 John John Florence, who already has a Finals berth secured, had a comfortable heat win, but retiring legend Kelly Slater finished last in his heat and must survive the cut next round to keep alive his hopes of a fifth title at Cloudbreak.

Second-ranked Griffin Colapinto was also sent to an elimination battle after the American finished second in his heat.

Medina, who has won twice in Fiji, produced the heat of the day, with a lengthy barrel collecting a 9.17, which he backed up with a 8.50 for a dominant victory.

In the women’s field, only American world No.1 Caitlin Simmers has booked a start in the one-day, winner-take-all showdown in California.

In fourth place, Picklum started well in Fiji by downing Hawaiian duo Gabriela Bryan and Bettylou Sakura Johnson.

“I just wanted to go out there and do my turns and hopefully let the barrel find me, but I was a bit greedy on the barrel and tried a bit too hard,” said the 21-year-old from NSW.

“I’m new here and obviously learning as I go and we got some really good take-aways in that heat, so I’m really happy to make it and get to use those learnings and go again.”

The current event marks the first Championship Tour stop in Fiji since 2017.