Small surf has forced a two-day break at the Margaret River Pro as organisers wait for better conditions early next week.

The World Surf League will make their next call on Sunday morning, with the men’s competition yet to get under way.

When the women’s event resumes, high-profile Australian Sally Fitzgibbons will be trying to avoid a third successive year of heartbreak at Margaret River.

Fitzgibbons is in the elimination round, where she will face compatriot Bronte Macaulay and current world No.2 Johanne Defay, of France.

With the women’s field cut to just 10 surfers following the round five event - and only four of those spots still up for grabs - Fitzgibbons effectively needs to make the semi-finals to move up from 14th and guarantee a start in the Championship Tour’s remaining competitions.

In 2022 Fitzgibbons missed the mark but received a wildcard for the remaining three events, while last year she had to compete in the Challenger Series to re-qualify for the elite level.

The men’s field will be reduced to 22 in the mid-season cut, with 10 surfers - including Australians Ethan Ewing and Jack Robinson - already safe.

Fitzgibbons took on ninth-ranked compatriot Tyler Wright and Hawaii’s current world No.5 Bettylou Sakura Johnson in the opening round on Thursday and was unlucky to finish third, with just 0.76 points splitting the three surfers.