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The second set of pairs see Michael and Pete maintain Tandang’s long lead, but Jeff Kent and Carter make up a lot of ground and move Kalabal into second place, while Malcolm and Denise have trouble paddling the boat and getting the very heavy chest back to shore, and Matsing slips back to third. It's pretty windy out there, but the issue seems to have been selecting Denise for what turned out to be the most physically demanding part. Back on the beach, Zane is still gathering his breath.

The puzzle is a tower with three tiers, and Lisa and Abi are already halfway through their first tier when Dawson and Jonathan from Kalabal begin. After Matsing finally arrives and Roxy and Angie get started on the puzzle, Russell can’t help peering in and giving advice. I thought he was lousy at puzzles and didn’t want to be the leader?

The challenge comes down pretty tight at the end between Kalabal and Tandang – the highlight of Probst commentary was “Can Lisa get the top on?” – and Kalabal just squeaks ahead of Tandang. That was a pretty good effort, after finishing so weakly in the running part - but it was about getting the least worst people in the right tasks, not about everyone doing the thing they are best at. Matsing is going to Tribal Council, having only completed two pieces of their puzzle. “I told you, I’m not good at puzzles”, Angie complains to Russell. So much for breaking any beauty queen stereotypes. Probst asks Matsing what happened, and Russell takes responsibility for the loss, saying that he made the decisions on who would do what. So it is down to his leadership? Idiot. Russell says that Matsing has to click, and maybe thinking of his own second chance, adds “that’s the beauty of it. There’s always a next time”. “There’s a next time for five of you. There’s not a next time for all six of you.” Probst observes. Tribal Council is tonight, and someone from Matsing will be the first person voted out of this game.

Back at camp, Russell makes his pitch to stay, which is basically that everyone has to dig so deep within themselves. To his annoyance, Zane tops him to say in Survivor you have to pull fire out of your stomach and decide that’s what you've got to throw down. But not only that – Zane says he isn’t up to the challenge of Survivor, and that he’s not built for it. He even points out that Russell had to pull him to finish that short jog through the jungle. Also, with his blue make-up, shirt and buff, he looks like a Smurf. Huh? Is Zane volunteering to be voted out? Ahead of Russell? Why is Zane doing this?

In interview, Zane reveals that this is a cunning plan! It is to “establish that he is running the game. This whole ruse was to fill out his tribe on exactly how I want to work things." He wants to make the point that his tribe would rather have him as a hindrance, than keep Russell. Zane has already made this point by being so bad at the challenge. There’s no need to emphasise it. Zane says “ I’m playing chess the best way I know how, and hopefully I gonna king me!” Like Zapp Brannigan says, when he hits that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards.

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