Only four celebrity contestants were left standing at the end of the second-last day on SAS Australia’s punishing course.
As day dawned in the Jordanian desert, there were five - AFL commentator Abbey Holmes, Thai cave rescue hero Dr Craig Challen, Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham, rugby star Mahalia Murphy, and reality TV star Tim Robards.
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But after a punishing day battling the elements, their injuries, and their minds, five would become four.
In the first task of the day, a sniper challenge, all five contestants failed to correctly identify a potential target.
Downcast, they headed back to base camp, only to be confronted with another challenge - an unexpected thunderstorm, which brought heavy rains that partially flooded their already uncomfortably rustic lodgings.
Still battling the rain, each contestant then had to lug two heavy cans of water up a steep slope, with every bit of muscle and fibre in their bodies screaming at them to down tools.
Robards, 40, who had constantly questioned whether he still had the physical strength of his youth, smashed it, making it to the top before anyone else.
Mitcham also completed the task, as did Challen, albeit not without a struggle.
Holmes lagged behind, screaming and gasping in pain as she battled to make it to the top - but she pushed through and completed the task, determination showing in her face.
![As the second-last day dawned, five contestants remained: Mahalia Murphy, Abbey Holmes, Craig Challen, Matthew Mitcham and Tim Robards.](https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-12390316/271cfd668cac2d84f8dad4171bec8c0cb79b3bbb.jpg?imwidth=650&impolicy=sevennews_v2)
However, Mahalia Murphy, who has battled back problems since an injury in 2017, had to reluctantly hand her number in halfway through.
While her mind was willing, her body was breaking down under the strain.
“I’m stuffed,” she said, downing tools.
“You sure?” asked Ant Middleton, who was walking beside her and trying to egg her on.
“Yes, staff,” she said, pain etched into her face.
![Ant Middleton looks on as the contestants prepare for a sniper exercise.](https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-12390316/450b77d91bd121e020cda6ec9f126292d19a0f9d.png?imwidth=650&impolicy=sevennews_v2)
As she ripped off her number, Middleton told her she had given an “outstanding effort”.
“Keep your f***ing head held high,” he said.
“You’ve pushed way beyond your physical and mental boundaries.
“No-one will understand what you’ve been through apart from you.
“You’ve been amazing, I’ve f***ing loved having you on my course.”
![Physically unable to continue, Mahalia Murphy hands her number in to DS Ant Middleton.](https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-12390316/11bd61ea678e2cd029b1e127307622e92b2c02a5.png?imwidth=650&impolicy=sevennews_v2)
The final test of the day was an intense grilling in the interview room of each remaining contestant by all four Directing Staff together.
Staring down Challen, Holmes, Robards and Mitcham with intimidating glares, they asked each contestant to state why they deserved to remain in the competition.
![The SAS directing staff stare down Dr Craig Challen.](https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-12390316/e19e41138d2132eaf421412f594e83c9404b8940.png?imwidth=650&impolicy=sevennews_v2)
Mentally drained, they were then called into the base camp courtyard for a talking to by Middleton.
“Final four,” he began.
“You all indeed deserve to be here.
“This will be your last night on camp - make the most of it, because tomorrow there’s a huge, huge task ahead of you - the most difficult and most painful that you have experienced on this course.
“I want you to push harder than you’ve ever pushed before.
“You have everything you need to get to the end of this course - and, for some of you, to pass it.
![Anthony ‘Staz’ Stazicker, Ant Middleton, Ollie Ollerton and Jamie ‘Jay’ Morton give the celebrity contestants a grilling.](https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-12390316/865b80fb36ed02d26cadedb7253a832bae96128f.png?imwidth=650&impolicy=sevennews_v2)
“We’ve done our bit - now it’s over to you to make it count.”
Who will make it through, and who will fall at the last hurdle?
Watch the SAS Australia finale at 7.30pm Wednesday on Channel 7 and 7plus.
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