Having only returned to competition late in 2019 after 18 months off with illness, Wright seemed like she had returned to title-winning form, smashing out a giant mix of snaps and carves to finish the heat in the runner-up position behind Hawaii's Gabriela Bryan with an impressive 13.90 two-wave heat total.

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This heat progression is one of many for the natural-footer in Manly, dating back to when she took out the Beachley Classic on the same stretch of sand at 14 years of age.

"I've got great support here in Manly and I always enjoy myself whenever I compete here," said Wright.

"This event here is about getting some time back in the rashie and putting some heats together.

"I have only had about six heats for a long time, so I really want to make sure I'm putting heats together here.

"Coming into this event, I just wanted to make sure I surfed as many heats as I possibly could."

Fitzgibbons got her 2020 Challenger Series campaign off to a flying start, surfing a near impeccable heat in round two.

The former Kiama High School student put on a clinic over the duration of the heat, posting a solid 15.94 two-wave heat total to leave all her fellow surfers needing a near-perfect 9.31 wave score to take away her lead.

"No matter how many practice heats you have in the off-season it doesn't prepare you for the real thing, so it was good to tee off out there today and get the year started," Fitzgibbons said.

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"I definitely wanted to have an impactful moment in my heat as I saw a lot of people fighting over the five- and six-point rides, so I had to find some bigger moments.

"It took me falling a few times to get there, but I was thankfully able to tidy it up later in the heat and get some high scores."

Fitzgibbons will meet Wright and United States youngster Alyssa Spencer in the upcoming third round.