MEREWETHER trio Ryan Callinan, Morgan Cibilic and Jackson Baker arrive at the Margaret River Pro trying to survive the World Surf League's mid-season cut for 2022.
Fresh from Bells, the first of two stops on the Australia leg of the championship tour, Callinan and Cibilic both sit below the current line while recently crowned Surfest champion Baker is just inside.
Twelve competitors from the original men's field of 36 are set to be relegated after the upcoming fifth event.
Callinan faces the toughest task, dropping two places after a 17th place finish at Bells to be ranked 33rd overall with 4255 points.
The goofy footer now requires a big result at Margaret River, scheduled to start on Sunday, to remain on tour for the rest of this year.
Callinan, 29, essentially needs to double his total with at least a quarter-final appearance, but more likely produce a top-four showing, in order to avoid relegation and having to re-qualify via the Challenger Series.
Cibilic, a top-five WSL finalist as a tour rookie last year, finds himself tied 28th on the rankings with 6245 points after a season-best ninth at Bells.
The 22-year-old has to make the round of 16 again, at a minimum, if he wants to contest the closing rounds of the CT.
Baker, a tour rookie, made the round of 16 at his first Bells and jumped three spots to 20th overall with 9300 points.
Currently the cut line falls between four surfers - Ezekiel Lau and Lucca Mesinas, tied 21st with 8735 points, in front of Conner Coffin and Olympic bronze medallist Owen Wright, who are joint 23rd on 7670 points.
