Lleyton Hewitt-lookalike Dane Sweeny and doubles supremo Storm Hunter are among seven home hopes within one qualifying win from a spot in the Australian Open main draw.
A dozen Australians were in action at Melbourne Park on Thursday, with six biting the dust including retiring fan favourite John Millman.
But Queensland-based Sweeny is dreaming big after being the second local to progress to the final round of qualifying at Melbourne Park, after Priscilla Hon advanced on Wednesday.
He was joined by 17-year-old Maya Joint, former teenage prodigies Destanee Aiava and Omar Jasika, as well as Hunter and WA's Maddison Inglis.
Wildcard Sweeny survived a tough first set against Italy's Luca Nardi and then raced away to secure a 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 win over the 13th seed.
Sweeny, ranked No.257, is hopeful of banking another victory on Friday after he reached the same stage in 2021 but fell at the final hurdle.
"It'd be amazing. I'm at a spot now where I really think I can do it," he said after downing the world No.119.
"Not just because I'm in the third round, but I've proven myself, particularly the end of last year, that I do have the level and capabilities to beat these guys."
Sweeny said people often commented on his uncanny resemblance to former world No.1 Hewitt, and as a kid he idolised the Australian great.
"I would love to be as good as him," he said.
"I respect the way he played and have idolised him, but I do want to play how Dane Sweeny plays, and I need to focus on bringing my own game-style to the court."
Women's doubles world No.1 Hunter overcame Switzerland's Celine Naef 6-3 7-6 (7-4), while Inglis vindicated her wildcard entry with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 defeat of Ukraine's Katarina Zavatska.
Hunter had to overcame a misfiring serve, with six double faults, to down Naef after trailing 1-3 in the second set.
"I didn't panic," Hunter said.
"I just used my experience to work my way back. I'm glad I got it done in straight sets.
"My parents are flying in Sunday so I have to win again so they can see me play singles as well as doubles."
Aiava showed some grit to beat Swiss 20th seed Jill Teichmann 2-6 7-5 6-1, while American-born Joint was too good for Latvia's Darja Semenistaja 6-1 7-6 (7-4).
Wildcard and Melbourne local Jasika, the 2014 US Open junior boys' singles and doubles champion, survived a tough three-setter against American Zachary Svajda before prevailing 7-5 4-6 6-2.
Another wildcard, 17-year-old Melisa Ercan, was set to follow Sweeny on to court but withdrew from her clash with China's Wei Sinjia after injuring her calf during her first-round match and being carted off in a wheelchair.
The teenager's consolation for her heroic opening win was the biggest cheque of her fledgling career.
Ercan will hobble away from Melbourne Park with a $44,100 pay day - more than doubling her previous career earnings.
Perth teen Talia Gibson toiled hard against 16-year-old Brenda Fruhvirtova before the Czech 10th seed won 1-6 6-3 7-5.
Sydneysider Ivana Popovic fell to 11th-seeded Hungarian Anna Bondar 6-4 6-4, while Edward Winter was ousted by India's Sumit Nagal 6-3 6-2.
Tristan Schoolkate lost 6-2 6-4 to Japan's Shintaro Mochizuki, while Millman was the disappointment of the day, falling 6-4 6-3 to Slovakia's Alex Molcan in an error-riddled end to his storied career.
The 34-year-old former US Open quarter-finalist announced last month he was walking away from professional tennis, saying his battered body could no longer cope with the grind of the 11-month season.
