Aaron Teys and Mathew McIntyre hadn't played together since their junior days but sounded an early South Pacific warning with an imposing display in yesterday's pairs sectional round.

The Warilla clubmates won their three games with a massive 63-shot differential to stroll into Thursday's knockout phase.

Teys usually returns home to Ballina for Christmas but is playing all three disciplines of the South Pacific this year.

This involves renewing his partnership with McIntyre from their under-18s days.

"I want to go as far as I can in the pairs and singles," Teys said. "Mat and I get on great and it's fun to play the pairs together."

McIntyre joined Warilla from Oak Flats and will play in Teys' rink in the pennants this season.

The sectional round of pairs featured 50 sections and close to 150 matches at 15 Illawarra clubs.

Defending champions Wiseman Park's Robin Smith and Shane Garvey won their section comfortably while 2011 champions Hemi Palmer and Scott Bateup also advanced.

Four-time South Pacific pairs champion John Green and partner Michael Clarke had a lucky escape at Dapto BC.

The pair won their final two games but an opening match loss to Warilla's Henry Viertel and Russell Jack left the section up for grabs. Viertel and Jack lost their final match by seven shots, enabling Clarke and Green to scrape through.

Among the sectional battles yesterday was Windang's Peter Tolias and Phil Argue beating 2000 player of the carnival Erin Smith and Geoff McGillivray by five shots to win section 22.

It was a good day for Windang BC with four pairs teams making it through to the knockout round.

Figtree RSL's Ray Smiles and Tony Dunn had two wins and only a three-shot differential but it was enough to win their section at Kembla Heights.

Dylan Skinner and Chris Green were impressive as were Bulli father and son Warren and Jared Hamilton (both on three wins +29).

Warilla's Jamie Mitchell and Jeremy Henry look a title threat after three big wins and 50 shot differential on their home green

Fairy Meadow's Mark Kesby and Frank Direnzo (three wins +20) advanced while Towradgi's Dave Wakeling-Wes Falconer (2.5w+33) drew their first game, won their second by 32 shots and sealed their section with a one-shot win in their final game.

Three rounds of knockout pairs will be played on Thursday at Warilla, with the quarter-finals and semi-finals on Saturday.

All finals are next Sunday at Warilla.