The London 2012 Olympic champions claimed a 25-20, 25-15, 25-18 win in the Pool 17 encounter at Queensland State Netball Centre in Brisbane as the final set of preliminary round matches got under way.

Victory for Russia moves them to the brink of the final round, while Australia are down in 13th.

The top six teams will qualify for the season-ending finale, scheduled to take place at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago in the United States.

In the other match in Pool 17, Argentina overcame China 25-17, 20-25, 25-21, 25-19.

Iran, who became the first team to book a place in the final round last week, recovered from their loss to France with a four-set win over Serbia.

The Iranian side beat Serbia 25-23, 26-28, 25-22, 25-19 in Pool 19 at Kolodruma in Plovdiv.

Bulgaria were 3-1 winners over the United States, battling from a set down to triumph 21-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-23.

Pool 18 action saw standings leaders Brazil beat France 23-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-23 at Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasilia, with Canada giving their qualification hopes a boost by seeing off Italy 15-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-18.

In Pool 20 at Arena Leipzig in Germany, Poland helped their bid with a 22-25, 25-19, 27-25, 25-20 win against Japan, while Germany won a topsy-turvy encounter with strugglers Portugal 28-26, 20-25, 25-10, 25-23.