Australia must win back to back curling matches against New Zealand if it is to claim a place in the 2008 World Curling Championships, and boost its chances of a berth at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.
 
The Australian team of Hugh Millikin, Ian Palangio, Sean Hall and Stephen Johns upset the Kiwis overnight in their final round robin match of the Pacific Curling Championships, winning 6 to 3.
 
But the team slipped to fourth place on the overall standings thanks to a crushing 8-3 victory by China over Chinese Taipei.
 
That put the Aussie quartet into a semi-final clash against their trans-Tasman rivals, with a place in the 2008 World Championships on the line.
 
Only the top two nations in the Pacific Championships, being held in Beijing, qualify for entry to the world titles.
 
In turn, results at the three World Championships of 2007, 2008 and 2009 will determine the ten nations that qualify for the Vancouver Games.
 
Australia claimed 3.5 Olympic Qualifying points at the 2007 world titles, and currently sits in eighth place in a tie with Norway.