Winger Josh Addo-Carr has grabbed five tries to propel Australia home 48-4 over Lebanon in the first Rugby League World Cup quarter-final at Huddersfield.
The outcome propels the defending champions into a potential blockbuster semi-final showdown against world No.1 New Zealand, who face Fiji in the second knockout clash on Sunday morning (NZ time).
Addo-Carr wasted little time stamping his opportunism on the contest, surviving intense video scrutiny to open the scoring in the fourth minute, with a try in the corner.
By the 18th minute, he had a hattrick, chasing captain James Tedesco through the Lebanon defence to finish off a break from halfway, before capitalising on a tackle strip by five-eighth Cameron Munster near the tryline for his third.
Second-rower Cameron Murray snatched a try double before halftime, as Australia lead 30-0 at the break. Two more tries from Addo-Carr effectively ended the contest, although veteran winger Josh Mansour managed a consolation effort for the Cedars.
Addo-Fox leads the tryscoring rankings with nine, one ahead of England's Dominic Young.
"I'm grateful for the five tries," he said. "We worked really hard through the middle and I'm just grateful to be on the wing, where all I have to do is catch the ball and put it down.
"I just love playing with these boys, I think we've got something special here."
Tedesco sat out the second half with a thigh injury, but is expected to recover for next week's semi-final.
New Zealand beat Lebanon 34-12 in their World Cup opener, but conceded the first try in both halves to the plucky Cedars, who later toppled Ireland to earn their spot at the next stage.
Lebanon were guided by Argentina rugby maestro and former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika.
The Kiwis will start as favourites against the Bati, but are well aware that the same team shocked them at the same stage at the last World Cup tournament on home soil.
Australia 48 (Addo-Carr 5, Murray 2, Mitchell & Martin tries; Cleary 6 conversions) Lebanon 4 (Mansour try)
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