Merewether goofy-footer Ryan Callinan was at his dominating best on Thursday as he powered into quarter-finals of the Margaret River Pro with another lethal backside assault.

Callinan beat good friend and training partner Frederico Morais 14.86 to 10.36 in pumping six-foot waves thanks to a 8.93 ride just inside the final 10 minutes of the 40-minute round of 16 heat at Main Break.

Trailing the Portuguese natural-footer 9.43 to 8.26, Callinan took control on the best wave of the heat, stringing together three big hits on his backhand and a quality finish to earn the excellent-range score.

Morais improved to 10.36 but he still needed a 9.43 late to overtake Callinan, who went on to win their first head-to-head battle on the championship tour.

Callinan next faces South African Jordy Smith, who beat adopted Novocastrian Julian Wilson with a last-minute wave of 4.67 to prevail 10.1 to 9.23 on Thursday.

The 8.93 for Callinan continued his hot streak of scores from backhand attacks at the fourth event of the CT season. He earned a 9.93 in winning his round one heat on Sunday and an 8.17 when dominating countryman Ethan Ewing 15 to 8.8 in the round of 32 on Monday.

"I'm really enjoying it," Callinan told the WSL broadcast.

"I'm having a good time over here. Obviously the heat with Fred, I've been hanging with him every day and we've got the same coach [Richard Marsh], plenty of banter beforehand, which was fun.

"But I'm really enjoying surfing out here and it feels like kind of a bit simplified in a way, but it's translating to excellent scores so it feels good."

Wave selection has been another key to success for the world No.11.

"It's actually really funny because every free surf I have I seem to get none of them, then in the heats maybe I can just pick the eyes out of them a bit more," he said.

"I feel like the good ones are just so obvious out there and when they come and you have priority, it's just a dream, so hopefully they keep coming to me."

He was glad to get bragging rights over Morais.

"He's an unbelievable surfer and I swear every practice heat we have, he waxes me, so it's nice to get him on one in the real thing," he said.

In the other quarter-finals, John John Florence takes on Griffin Colapinto, Seth Moniz meets Matthew McGillivray and Italo Ferreira clashes with Filipe Toledo.

In the women's semi-finals, hometown hope Bronte Macaulay faces Tatiana Weston-Webb and Carissa Moore takes on Stephanie Gilmore.

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