Eight-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore will be aiming to salute in El Salvador for the second year running, but the star Australian faces a tough task to knock off world No.1 Carissa Moore.
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Moore is the runaway leader on the World Surf League points tally after backing up her triumph at the Margaret River Pro with victory at the recent Surf Ranch Pro.
With three event wins already under her belt from six tour stops this year, it seems only injury will halt Moore from finishing world No.1 and claiming top seeding for the end-of-season finals.
For Gilmore, the task now is all about scraping into the top five.
With just four events remaining before finals, Gilmore sits seventh on the rankings and is in need of a big result in El Salvador.
Faced with a similar prospect last year, Gilmore ended up winning at Punta Roca before shocking the field from fifth spot in the end-of-season finals to claim her eighth world crown.
Fellow Australians Tyler Wright (second) and Molly Picklum (third) are well placed to stay in the top five and qualify for finals.
"The field of women and the talent right now is incredible, everyone is super competitive," Moore said.
"I have my work cut out for me if I want to get three event wins in a row. I'm focused on trying to figure out the wave, enjoying my time here as much as possible, and surfing at my best."
On the men's side, American Griffin Colapinto shot to world No.1 on the back of his triumph at Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch last month, while Brazilians Joao Chianca and Filipe Toledo round out the top three.
Colapinto won last year's El Salvador Pro and he'll be aiming to defend his title.
Australians Ethan Ewing and Jack Robinson sit fourth and fifth respectively in the world rankings, but they have three-time world champion Gabriel Medina and two-time world champion John John Florence biting on their heels.
Robinson started the year in the hottest of form with finishes of first, third and second from the opening three events.
But two 17th-placed results either side of missing the Margaret River Pro with a knee injury have put his finals hopes at risk.
Australian Associated Press
