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NSW surfer Tom Whitaker has knocked out 11-time world champion Kelly Slater in the ASP event at Margaret River to advance to the quarter-finals.

NSW surfer Tom Whitaker upset 11-time world champion Kelly Slater in the ASP event at Margaret River on Friday as five Australians advanced to the quarter-final stage.

Whitaker edged out the 40-year-old American 16.67 points to 16.56 in the heats to win through to the last eight, where he'll take on 1999 world champion and two-time Margaret River winner Mark Occhilupo.

"There's only one strategy to have against Kelly," said Whitaker, who prevailed in solid two-metre waves on the West Australian coast south of Perth.

"You've got to wait for the best waves and surf to your strengths, because he can catch tiny waves and turn them into nine-point rides.

"When you surf against Kelly there's almost less pressure, because he's meant to flog you. You just go out there and surf hard."

In the other quarter-finals, Australia's Josh Kerr will battle Hawaii's Olamana Eleogram, NSW's Kai Otton faces American CJ Hobgood and Victoria's Nic Muscroft lines up against red-hot Hawaiian John John Florence.

Florence scored the event's first perfect 10-point ride, then backed that up with a 9.70 to thump American Kolohe Andino in the heats.