Surfing in the Tahiti Pro has been put on hold for two days while the World Surf League competition awaits the arrival of a huge swell.

Organisers made the call early on Sunday (Monday AEST) to delay competition at Teahupo'o, which is up to the quarter-finals in the women's event and the elimination round for the men.

The forecast suggests conditions could be similar to the epic 2014 contest at the break when Kelly Slater downed Gabriel Medina in 12 to 15 foot barrelling waves, with the final widely considered one of the best in WSL history.

"Even though there were some remnants of yesterday's swell, the biggest set was the size of the average sets yesterday," said Renato Hickel, WSL deputy commissioner.

"With this swell forecast to fade further, it was an easy decision to wait for the next set of bigger swells.

"Wednesday and Thursday are looking great to run the competition with the anticipated swell and we're looking at Friday as our backup day.

"We might have a look on Tuesday, and we're expecting to have a big day on Wednesday."

The two top-ranked surfers, Australia's Jack Robinson and world No.1 American Griffin Colapinto are both in the sudden-death round.

Defending champion Robinson will face good friend Brazilian Yago Dora while Colapinto faces Tahiti local trial's winner, Mihimana Braye.

Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright will fly the flag for Australia in the women's event after they both survived the elimination round.

World No.3 Picklum will take on Tahiti's Vahine Fierro, who scored a near-perfect 9.33 at Teahupo'o in the opening rounds.

Wright is up against another veteran in Tatiana Weston-Webb at the famed break which will host the Paris Olympics surfing tournament.