Wollongong surfing legend Mick Lowe believes Gerroa's Sally Fitzgibbons is destined to be a world champion, regardless of whether she earns a breakthrough world crown at Maui this week.

Three-time tour runner-up Fitzgibbons and fellow South Coast product Tyler Wright are the only two competitors capable of denying tour leader and fellow Aussie Steph Gilmore her sixth world crown when the season-ending event at Honolua Bay finally begins this week.

The trio were forced to sit through a third consecutive lay day on Tuesday with the conditions set to be assessed again early on Wednesday morning (AEDT).

Lowe said that, though Gilmore was in the box seat, both Fitzgibbons and Wright were more than capable of wresting the title from her.

"Steph's in the driver's seat so it's probably hers to lose," Lowe said.

"The point break of Maui suits probably all three girls, but in particular Steph, having grown up at Snapper [Rocks].

"But Sally's forehand is really good too. It's probably her best attack. I think between all three, it's going to be very interesting.

"Steph's been in this situation before, where she's had to win a world title and she's got it, but she's got two hungry young girls snapping at her heels in Sal and Tyler and they're both more than capable of winning if Steph makes any mistake.

"It's going to come down to who performs under pressure the most and who has the most luck.

"I just hope the waves improve throughout the window so that they get the best opportunity in really good waves to win the world title."

A narrow defeat at the hands of Gilmore in the penultimate event in Portugal in October leaves Fitzgibbons in the all-to-familiar No 2 position.

"It's not a matter of if, it's just when. She's got the talent and she's definitely got the drive," he said.

"She had a very close call against Tyler in France - that might have changed things a bit, and Steph just pipped her in Portugal.

"She's been the most consistent performer over the last four years.

"She hasn't quite got there, but she's definitely good enough and she deserves to win a world title."