Leander Paes and his Australian partner Paul Hanley warded off the challenge of Argentina's David Nalbandian and Guillermo Canas to enter the doubles quarter-finals at the Pacific Life Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells.

The eighth seed Indo-Australian pair beat the Argentine duo 7-5, 2-6, 10-5 in the second round.

Meanwhile, sixth seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of Bahamas won their opening encounter against Germany's Christopher Kas and Dutch Rogier Wassen 6-3, 7-6 (3) to move into the second round.

Paes and Hanley will take on third seeds Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia and Canada's Daniel Nestor in their last eight encounter.