Fanning to surf Slater again in Hawaii

Mick Fanning faces a pressure-packed quarter-final against 11-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater as he bids to win his fourth world title, after a tragic day for his family.

Fanning, surfing despite learning of the death back in Australia of his brother Peter, won his third and fourth-round heats.

He shaded American legend Slater and Hawaiian John John Florence in a stacked fourth-round heat.

Slater qualified for a quarter-final rematch with Fanning with a fifth-round victory over Hawaiian Keanu Asing.

"He (Fanning) better do his thing, because I want to win this contest," Slater said.

Slater offered his condolences to the Fanning family and revealed he had spoken to his Australian adversary while they were in the water,

"I'm here supporting Mick as a friend," Slater said.

"Out in the water, I was just telling him to 'focus, good luck and have fun and try and put everything out of your mind; all the pressure and personal things and just everything going on'.

"It's hard to compete at world level but he did today and that's why he's a multi-world champ and why he's staring down at another one right now."

Brazilians Adriano de Souza and defending world champion Gabriel Medina also still have a chance of winning the world title with each also advancing directly to the quarter-finals.