On the QS, a surfer's best five results are counted at the end of the year. The top six with the most points qualify for the CT the following year. However, if a surfer finishes the year in the top six on the QS, but requalifies with a top 10 finish on the CT, the next highest QS athlete is promoted.
As the situation stands with just one major QS event remaining and three competitions left on the CT schedule, Hareb would secure the fifth QS ticket.
Aside from the reward of surfing on the CT, qualifying for next year's tour could improve Hareb's chance at Olympic qualification.
The eight highest ranked eligible athletes on next year's women's CT qualify for the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020. However, only four athletes from each country can compete surfing at the Olympics - two men and two women. In 2018, Hareb and France's Johanne Defay are the only two full-time competitors not from Australia, the United States or Brazil.
Fresh of her best result of the year, Hareb won't get much time to rest as she turns her attention to her first individual competition in a wave pool.
The CT heads to California this week for an event at the Surf Ranch. Hareb has already tasted victory at the venue, winning the inaugural Founders' Cup as part of Team World.
The remaining CT events take the tour to France in early October and Hawaii in late November, with the final major QS event of the season held in Australia in early November.
Qualifying Series standings:
1. Caroline Marks* (USA) - 20,700 points
2. Coco Ho (Hawaii) - 18,650
3. Nikki van Dijk* (Australia) - 13,550
4. Silvana Lima (Brazil) - 13,180
5. Bronte Macaulay (Australia) - 12,900
6. Keely Andrew (Australia) - 12,850
7. Tatiana Weston-Webb* (Brazil) - 12,700
8. Malia Manuel* (Hawaii) - 12,300
9. Paige Hareb (New Zealand) - 11,500
10. Brisa Hennessy (Costa Rica) - 11,400
* - also in the top 10 on the Championship Tour.
