Australia’s gold-chasing men’s volleyballers have sealed qualification to the Commonwealth Games quarter-finals with a comfortable win over South Africa.

Chris McHugh and Paul Burnett backed up their opening win over the Maldives with a 21-12 21-12 victory over Leo Williams and Grant Goldschmidt.

Australia went 23/28 with their attacks, including eight aces.

But rather than relish progressing, McHugh said he and Burnett would turn their focus quickly to Wednesday’s game against Rwanda, their final group fixture before the knockouts.

Rwanda is also unbeaten after two games and Wednesday’s winner will finish top of pool B.

“It’s nice knowing that we’ll be in the quarter-finals but we’re definitely looking to win the next game against Rwanda and then finish three for three,” Burnett said.

“Our goal is obviously to win the gold so quarter-final is part of that process but just taking it one game at a time.”

McHugh was part of t he gold-medal winning pair on the Gold Coast but has now teamed with youngster Burnett as he attempts to defend his title.

“People keep raising it (defending gold) and look, for sure we come out here to win and we come out here to win every game,” he said.

“Being a new team, we’re just taking every game in our stride and trying to get better.

“We know our best competes with anybody in the world so we’re just trying to bring that every day and if that brings us the gold medal then so be it.

“We’ve got another game on Wednesday. It’s critical to finish first in the pool and it’s another opportunity to put our best out there.”

Women’s duo Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho de Solar go up against Trinidad & Tobago in their next match on Tuesday after an easy first-up win over Sri Lanka.