Australia will be in the hunt for a podium finish on Thursday with the C2 combination of Robin Jeffery and Kynan Maley sneaking into the semi-final of their event after an exciting day of slalom racing in the doubles.

After producing a less than perfect first run, the Western Australian Institute of Sport pair needed to really lift in their second attempt.

They put down a solid run, finishing in a time of 107.47 including two penalties picked up courtesy of gates 4 and 12.

The score put them in 10th place, sneaking through into the top 10 needed to progress into the semi-final. A nervous wait then ensued however as the German combination of David Schroeder and Frank Henze, in 11th place, lodged a protest against a penalty incurred in their second run – the result of which could have knocked the Aussies out of contention.

As the Aussies waited at the bottom of the course and watched the remaining pairs complete the course, they were anything but nervous.

"To be honest, I’ll be happy either way,” Maley said. "We had such a good run that second time that it doesn’t matter what happens. Obviously I’ll be over the moon if we get through but either way I’ll be happy with how we went.”

Nerves were set at ease when the official results were posted and Maley and Jeffery maintained their 10th placing.

"It’s a tough course,” Jeffery said. "Normally on qualification runs it’s not that tight and they then make it harder for finals.”

"It’s tight trying to get a boat of two people through without penalties,” Maley added.

Maley will now contest two semi-finals (C1 and C2) and his elation at his Olympic experience so far is contagious.

"I just can’t believe how good it feels to be out there,” the 30-year-old said. "I thought the Opening Ceremony was amazing the other night, but being out there is really something else.”