Sunday May 25 6.30pm (PG) - FIRST QUARTER-FINAL

The competition heats up tonight on GLADIATORS with the first of four quarter finals.

Returning for the women are South Australia’s Nicole Sawon and Victoria’s Natasha Haines.

Natasha blitzed her way through her heat, scoring 10 points in a dream run on the Gauntlet. With an equal start on the Eliminator, she powered ahead to beat her rival by 14 seconds so she’s proven she has the speed.

Nicole came in as a sub for an injured challenger in the heats and immediately took control of the games, taking six points against Destiny in Atlasphere and out-swinging the queen of competition Olympia on Vertigo.

But will the girls enjoy as much luck the second time around when they take on the Gladiators in Pendulum, Whiplash, Gauntlet and The Wall?

For the men, it’s a battle between two South Australians as Damien Nicholls and Nick Hicks return after successfully winning their heats.

Nick scored six points against Kouta in Atlasphere and 10 points against Hunter on Vertigo, but he was knocked flying by Thunder on Suspension Bridge.

Damien enjoyed a quick run through the Gauntlet to collect 10 points and remarkably dodged past Scar to be the only challenger to scale the heights of the Pyramid to date.

Will the guys collect as many points this time around with a couple of new games testing them against the might of the Gladiators.

The winners will proceed to the semi finals, with the two overall winners of the series (one male and one female) sharing in $100,000 and two All Wheel Drive Subaru Foresters.

GLADIATORS is hosted by TOM WILLIAMS and ZOE NAYLOR with referee BILL HARRIGAN.