The WSL has pushed two popular choices for wildcards into the Fiji Pro - Bethany Hamilton and Yago Dora. It's the second time Hamilton has received a wildcard, last year she made good on the entry bating Tyle Wright and Stephanie Gilmour on her way to a third place finish.

"Last year was amazing, yet I know I have to focus and go into the event fresh; it is a new year and, as usual, competition will be tough," Hamilton said. "I feel like I'm surfing better than ever, so I can't help but be excited!"

The Women's competition starts on May 28th with Hamilton coming up against Tyler Wrightand Tatiana Weston-Webb in Round One.

The Men's event starts a week later on June 4th and Yago Dora was gifted an entry on the back of his performance at the Oi Rio Pro. Dora beat world champions John John Florence, Gabriel Medina and Mick Fanning on his way to the semifinals, before finally being stopped by another world champ, compatriot Adriano de Souza.

"He's the real deal," Mick Fanning said of Dora after the Rio event. "He's a great surfer, and to take out as many World Champions as he did, that's not something to sneeze at. I think he has a bright future. It's exciting, I really like seeing the young guys come up and throw a cat amongst the pigeons."

Compaed to Rio, Dora will get a relatively easy heat in Round One, drawing Jordy Smith and Kanoa Igarashi. The only goofyfooter at a long left.

Local Tevita Gukilau has received the other wildcard.