By Piers Newbery BBC Sport at Melbourne Park
- Venue: Rod Laver Arena
- Date: 26 January
- Time: 08:30 GMT
Coverage: Live coverage on BBC Two, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport website, mobiles and BBC Sport app
Rafael Nadal is eager to win a second Australian Open title against Stanislas Wawrinka on Sunday, after fitness problems blighted recent attempts.
The Spaniard won the tournament in 2009 but was affected by injuries the following two years, and missed the event altogether in 2013.
"I had very emotional moments this year," said Nadal, the reigning French Open and US Open champion.
"It's the Grand Slam that I really had more problems with in my career."
Stanislas Wawrinka"I did some good matches last year against him, close ones. I found a few things that I will try"
He added: "A lot of years I didn't have a chance to play in this tournament that I really love so much with the perfect conditions, so it's very special have the chance to be in the final here again."
Nadal will be trying to win his 14th Grand Slam title on Sunday, which would bring him level with Pete Sampras and second to Roger Federer's 17 on the all-time list.
It would also make the Spaniard only the third man, after Rod Laver and Roy Emerson, to win all four of the majors at least twice each.
And despite a blister on his racquet hand, Nadal appears in good physical shape after missing last year's tournament with a serious knee injury.
"I am moving quick. I am able to come back from a difficult situations," he said.
"With great shots of the opponent I am able to keep producing power on the shots, and produce great shots from very difficult positions.
"That's because the movements are ready and because I feel the power in the legs when I arrive in tough positions, and the confidence on the shots."
Nadal will be making his 19th Grand Slam final appearance, in marked contrast with Wawrinka, who is making his debut.
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Sampras has 'never seen anything like' Nadal
Perhaps most telling of all, Nadal has not dropped a set in 12 previous matches against the Swiss.
"It's a Grand Slam final - that's a different kind of match than I played against him in the past," said Nadal.
"He's playing better than ever. If I don't play my best tennis, I am sure that he will win three sets against me. I'm not going to have the chance to beat him."
Wawrinka has climbed to a career-high fifth in the rankings by reaching the final, making him the Swiss number one ahead of Federer, and he will climb to number three if he wins the title.
And the 28-year-old insists he is not concerned by his 0-12 record against Nadal, having beaten three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals.
"The record is not what I'm looking at," said Wawrinka.
"I don't care. It's more about playing Rafa. He's the number one, the best player. His game is quite tough for me, especially with a one-handed backhand.
"But I did some good matches last year against him, close ones. I found a few things that I will try.
"Before, for me to beat Djokovic was the same. I was losing 13, 14 times before that. I'm always trying and I always think that I can change all the statistics."
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