Keely downs Carissa in US Open of Surfing at Huntington beach

RISING Sunshine Coast star Keely Andrew will take a boatload of confidence into her US Open showdown against Tyler Wright after beating defending world champion Carissa Moore to advance to the final eight.

Keely Andrew surfing at the Vans US Open of Surfing.

RISING Sunshine Coast star Keely Andrew will take a boatload of confidence into her US Open showdown against Tyler Wright after beating defending world champion Carissa Moore to advance to the final eight.

The Mooloolaba product believes she is a chance to take down world title contender Wright, with the Huntington beach break similar to her home break.

Keely Andrew (right) speaking to the media at Huntington Beach.

The 21-year-old has notched just four wins on the World Surf League tour this season but two of them have come at the US Open, where she beat Fiji Pro champion Johanne Defay in Round 2 before upsetting Moore.

“Just having the opportunity to surf against Carissa is insane, she’s always been one of my influences growing up,’’ Andrew said.

“It’s small and it’s really weak out there so it’s really similar to back home on the Sunshine Coast.

“I just knew that if I stuck to those rights and kept doing what I was doing I’d make it through.’’

Keely Andrew surfing at Huntington.

Andrew has enlisted local knowledge to bolster her chances and after taking down Moore, believes she has a chance to knock Wright out and notch her best tour result.

“We watched it for a bit and noticed that there were a couple of rights and if you’re patient enough they will come through,’’ Andrew said of her strategy of waiting for a right-hander on a break in which most of her rivals were taking lefts into the famous Huntington Beach pier.

“You just don’t (deviate from the plan) if you’re not catching any waves.

“As long as you’re patient and you’re on the best waves (it will pay off).’’

The match-up is likely to be a classic, with the usually heavy-footed power surfer Wright having spend the past month in California to come to terms with the light conditions.

The final four quarterfinalists were decided earlier today, with Andrew, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Malia Manuel and Sage Erickson winning through their Round 4 knockout heats to advance to the final eight.

Sally Fitzgibbons and Moore were the biggest casualties, with their losses a blow to their world title campaigns.