By MURRAY WENZEL

Indigenous beach volleyballer Taliqua Clancy and partner Mariafe Artacho del Solar withstood some early Brazilian pressure to win their round-of-16 clash in straight sets in Paris.

Australia’s power pair are two wins away from another Olympic gold medal game after a statement defeat of Brazil to begin the knockout stages under the Eiffel Tower.

Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar snapped into top gear on Sunday afternoon in Paris, powering back from an early deficit to win commandingly, 24-22 21-14.

The Tokyo silver medallists absorbed Carolina Solberg Salgado and Barbara Seixas de Freitas’s service pressure then applied plenty of their own in a confidence-boosting round-of-16 win.

“We took another good step forward, which is what we want to do, keep improving every match,” said 32-year-old Clancy.

“We kept the trust in our game style and what we’re able to do, and so we just trusted, we just stayed patient, kept firing our weapons, and we got the pay-off in the end.”

The Brazilians led 10-6 and then 12-8 as the Australians struggled to settle in the first set.

But they surged late in the quarter to level at 17-all, eventually sealing the set on their fourth opportunity when Clancy smothered a Brazilian offensive play that drifted too close to the net.

They’ll next face Swiss pair Esmee Boebner and Zoe Verge-Depre for a spot in the final four.

“They’re playing really great volleyball, so it’ll be another good fight,” said Clancy, who has her nails painted with the Aboriginal flag.

“I’m a proud Indigenous woman, so my nails are just something for me to represent.

“Representation is really important. It’s just keeping it close with me.”

AAP