Venue: Melbourne Park Date: 19 January-1 February
Coverage: Nadal v Verdasco live from 0830 GMT on BBC Red Button, Radio 5 Live sports extra, BBC Sport website (Red Button coverage streamed on website throughout fortnight)
 Nadal (left) has won all six of his previous matches against Verdasco
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World number one Rafael Nadal has vowed to avoid complacency as he looks to set up an Australian Open final against rival Roger Federer.
The 22-year-old meets Fernando Verdasco at 0830 GMT on Friday, having won all six of his previous matches against his fellow Spaniard.
"Fernando is playing at his best level," said the top seed.
"I've never played against him when at the level he's playing at right now. It's going to be very tough."
Nadal may be chastened by his experience in last year's semi-final when he was crushed by the previously unheralded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Verdasco, like Tsonga in 2008, is this year's surprise package in Melbourne following his five-set win over Andy Murray and victory over Tsonga in the quarter-finals.
The 25-year-old has been in fine form since helping Spain win the Davis Cup in December, after which he spent the off-season in Las Vegas working with Andre Agassi's former coach Gil Reyes.
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Wenger's Magic Hat
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"The Davis Cup changed my life so much and gave me a lot of confidence and mentally made me much stronger," he said.
"I worked so hard this pre-season with Gil Reyes in Las Vegas. I'm feeling much better than before. They helped me so much."
Verdasco progressed beyond the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career with victory over Murray - who was considered one of the title favourites.
But the 14th seed believes he faces a much tougher task against Nadal.
"For me, Rafa is the toughest player in five-set matches," he said.
"It's going to be the toughest match possible, but I'm feeling pretty good and I just think that I can beat anyone."
Federer booked his place in Sunday's final with a consummate display against Andy Roddick.
The world number two is through to his 18th Grand Slam final as he seeks a record-equalling 14th major title.
He admitted he has mixed feelings about who he would prefer to face.
"I'd like to play Fernando because he's never played a Grand Slam final before. I have an edge there," said the 27-year-old.
"Playing Rafa is obviously more exciting because of the history we have, playing in so many Grand Slam finals.
"Him being the best player in the world at the moment, it would make it a very intriguing match."
Nadal is the only player to have beaten Federer in a Grand Slam final, three times at the French Open and once at Wimbledon.
But Federer said he could not be happier with his form in 2009 after struggling with the after-effects of glandular fever at last year's tournament.
"I do feel better mentally. I'm obviously more healthy so I can focus on playing well," he said after seeing off Roddick in straight sets.
"I'm really pleased about my performance so far in the tournament. The draw was difficult and dangerous if you look back on who I had to play."
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