Christopher McHugh and Damien Schumann are the favourites for the tournament ©FIVB

Number one seeds Christopher McHugh and Damien Schumann booked their place in the semi-finals of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Beach World Tour event in Shepparton.

The Australian duo, who could only finish third in Pool A on home sand, defeated Fijian pairing Inia Korowale and Macanieli Elliot in their round-of-12 match by a comfortable 21-8, 21-11 scoreline.

They then saw off Eric Zaun and Adam Roberts of the United States with another shut-out match which ended 21-6, 21-17.

The home players will now face Germans Armin Dollinger and Simon Kulzer in the last four.

Dollinger and Kulzer got a bye in the round-of-12 as Thailand's Nuttanon Inkiew and Sedtawat Padsawud had to pull out injured.

The German duo put this extra energy to good use in their quarter-final against Sweden's Martin Appelgren and Simon Boman, eventually coming out 23-21, 24-22 winners.

Armin Dollinger and Simon Kulzer are the only German team in the semi-finals of either the men's or women's tournament ©Beachvolleyballteam Dollinger-Kulzer/Facebook
Armin Dollinger and Simon Kulzer are the only German team in the semi-finals of either the men's or women's tournament ©Beachvolleyballteam Dollinger-Kulzer/Facebook

Second seeded Australian pairing Cole Durant and Zachery Schubert are the headline name in the second semi-final.

The duo avoided a round-of-12 match after finishing top of Pool B before defeating Canada's Sergiy Grabovskyy and Fiodar Kazhamiaka by a 21-15, 19-21, 15-11 scoreline in the quarter-finals.

They will now play against US qualifiers Chase Frishman and James Avery Drost for a place in the final.

Like Durant and Schubert, Frishman and Drosl also avoided a round-of-12 tie by finishing top of their group.

They then defeated Surin Jongklang and Adisorn Khaolumtarn of Thailand 21-6, 19-21, 15-8 to secure their place in the last four.

The US will have two representatives in the women's semi-final in the form of Jace Pardon and Caitlin Ledoux and Amanda Dowdy and Irene Pollock.

Both American pairings received byes to the quarter-finals after winning their groups.

Jace Pardon and Caitlin Ledoux are one of two American pairings in the semi-finals ©FIVB
Jace Pardon and Caitlin Ledoux are one of two American pairings in the semi-finals ©FIVB

Pardon and Ledoux then defeated Yukako Suzuki and Kano Sakaguchi 21-10, 21-16 in their match whilst Dowdy and Pollock also saw off a Japanese team in their quarter-final, coming back from a set down to beat Chiyo Suzuki and Reika Murakami 19-21, 21-12, 15-13.

The former pair will face Italy's Marta Menegatti and Laura Giombini whilst Dowdy and Pollock will come up against Shaunna Marie Polley and Kelsie Wills of New Zealand in their semi-final.

Both the semi-finals and finals of the men's and women's events will take place tomorrow.