** Australian energy stocks .AXEJ fall as much as 2% to 8344.600 points, lowest since Sept. 11

** Sub-index leader Woodside Energy WDS.AX drops as much as 2.33%, while rival Santos STO.AX hit 152-week low, slipping 2.6%

** Underlying crude oil prices struggle for direction as Brent crude futures LCOC1 eased slightly, while the commodity lost more than 2.5% last week on subdued demand from major consumer China

** Sub-index set to log its worst trading day in a week

** As of last close, AXEJ down ~20% this year

(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru)

((Nichiket.Sunil@thomsonreuters.com))