Laird, Artacho in for Rio beach volleyball

Under-23 beach volleyball world champions Nikki Laird and Mariafe Artacho del Solar will contest their debut Olympics like they've got nothing to lose.

The pair round out Australia's two-team female contingent to compete against the world's best on Copacabana beach in August.

They join top-ranked duo Louise Bawden and Taliqua Clancy, who are seeded seventh in Rio after qualifying automatically via the world rankings.

"It's something we've been working toward for the past four years," Laird said.

"For it to now be a reality makes me beyond excited."

Laird and Artacho were selected on Friday ahead of Becchara Palmer and Phoebe Bell, the team with whom they earned Australia a second quota spot by winning the Asian continental qualifiers in Cairns last weekend.

The pair, who went to school together at northern Sydney's Killara High, produced the best performance of their careers to beat tough Vanuatu pair Miller Pata and Linline Matauata.

They are now prepared to lay it all on the line in Brazil.

"In the end we took the opportunity and grabbed it," said Artacho, who was born in Peru and moved to Australia when she was 11.

"That was the best volleyball we've played as a team and individually.

"We were fearless and like `let's leave this game like it's the best game we've ever played'.

"There is still plenty of room for improvement and growth for our team, but we go into Rio with nothing to lose."

Australia did not qualify a men's team for the Games.