Wawrinka, of course, hasn't won a set against the world number one in 12 previous matches and will he wobble in unchartered territory? Gulp. The eighth seed's legs have turned to guacamole... Nadal makes the most of a fortunate net cord to thunder a forehand into the corner for three break points. But, hold your horses, big serving gets Wawrinka out of trouble and a furious Nadal punches his racquet strings at letting three break points slip. Wawrinka collects five points on the trot - finishing with a classy ace to the wings - to win the set. My, oh my.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

"There's a stunned air about Rod Laver Arena right now as Wawrinka spends half an hour beating up Nadal from the baseline, and making the odd flashing dart to the net. Nadal shot a dark glance at his player box after Wawrinka decided to go for a bit of serve-and-volley, successfully, and the Spaniard has been struggling to find his usual length on groundstrokes with the Swiss ready to pounce on every half-chance."

Image source, AFP

Wawrinka has oodles of energy left in the tank. The Swiss bouncing on the baseline, twirling his racquet, and seems eager to take on the Nadal serve. The out-of-sorts Spaniard throws in a double fault - his second of the match - to allow the Swiss back into the game at 30-15, but he then responds with an ace. Wawrinka balloons a forehand wide to gift Nadal the game but the Swiss is closing in on the set.

Some of you may already know that Wawrinka spent his rest day visiting a James Bond exhibition at a Melbourne museum and it seems the eighth seed has been given a licence to thrill. (I'm sorry.) Brutal hitting from the Swiss who opens up the court with a thumping forehand into Nadal's forehand corner before ending the point with an equally powerful clean winner to the other side. Wawrinka 40-0 up and cruising, although Nadal nicks two points to sow some seeds of doubt before the Spaniard goes long to wrap up the game. What a start.

Manesh Mistry:, external @stanwawrinka means business here. Same break pts won + converted as Federer did in the entire semi vs Nadal and its only game 4!

Alex Tross:, external Stan's in it to win it! It's going to be a great final.

Nathaniel Jansen:, external Wawrinka started well but can't see him making these winners consistently over 3 sets let alone 5.

The world number one seems to have decided the best way to get the better of his opponent is by advancing to the net and the ploy brings him two easy points to eke a 30-0 advantage, but Wawrinka hauls himself back to 30-30 - a backhand down the line has the spectators purring in admiration.

Nadal a shadow of the man who reduced Roger Federer to a pulp and Wawrinka earns a break point with a fabulous volley at the net. A rip-roaring first serve. Danger averted. Sweat flowing down the bridge of Nadal's nose like a leaky tap. The Spaniard, whose T-shirt is sopping, is being made to work for every point and, eventually, he comes through that momentary blip.

The Wawrinka serve is now as reliable as his country's clocks with two aces down the 'T' getting the better of the scowling Nadal for a 40-15 lead. The Swiss then approaches the net and volleys across court to consolidate his break. Wawrinka keeping Nadal on his toes, letting the red hot favourite know he has a humdinger of a battle in front of him.

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Wawrinka has settled very well but Nadal actually looks slightly nervous and as if he is playing with all the pressure on him. Nadal is playing about half pace and is very tentative. I don't think he's hit one ball flat out yet."

Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, AP

Nadal messes up a drop shot and Wawrinka pounces with a sweeping backhand volley to nick the first point of the game. The eighth seed once again has donned his nation's colours, sporting scarlet shorts and a crisp white t-shirt, and it seems the majority on Rod Laver are Swiss natives, too.

A double fault from Nadal followed by a backhand volley into the tramlines presents the 28-year-old with two break points. Cue deafening roars. And it's Nadal, a man with 13 Grand Slam titles to his name, who crumbles like a chocolate flake, netting following a lengthy baseline rally.

John Lloyd
Former British number one on BBC Two

"Stan does not look nervous, or if he is, he's disguising it very well. He secures two excellent holds to start with and is showing no signs of any Grand Slam first-time jitters. He looks very comfortable."

Wawrinka's second serve has enough menace to leave Nadal floundering on the baseline for a 30-0 lead. A thumping one-two from the Swiss - a booming serve followed by a crackerjack of a forehand down the line - end a point for a 40-15 advantage and, then, that beautiful single-handed backhand comes into play to secure a regulation hold. Nervous? Me? No, I'm the Stanimal.

John Lloyd
Former British number one on BBC Two

"The more that other players raise the bar, Nadal goes and does it again. It's frighteningly good. He's only 27 and already has 14 Grand Slam titles. He can do this for another five or six years easily. I think he can win three this year. If he wins this one today, and the French Open is a gimme, he'll be favourite to win one of either Wimbledon or the US Open."

Image source, AFP

Nadal, of course, is a familiar face on such grand occasions and is so comfortable on this stage that he continues to readjust his undergarments despite the glare of the crowd and the watching millions. Wawrinka unable to truly test the Spaniard on his own serve and the top seed sprints towards the net to put away a driving volley for a hold to love.

Julie Loughran:, external It's Nadal's day! He will dismiss Wawrinka in 3 sets, and it is his for the taking to win his 14th Grand Slam. A born champion!

Jamie Smith:, external Nadal is obviously clear favourite, but Wawrinka is playing great. Anything can happen in the final.

Aubrey Welch:, external I think it's got to be Nadal...just too classy and consistent...three tough but straight sets.

The opening point is a baseline slug-fest and there are huge cheers as Nadal's forehand sails long. More whoops and whistles for the underdog as he collects another easy point. Worryingly, Wawrinka is putting a touch too much oomph on his first serves, nerves perhaps, but is holding firm on the second serves and a netted Nadal return earns the Swiss a hold to 15.

The warm up is over. We're about to get down to business. Stand by...

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Stan's got to get into the match but the great thing for him is he is serving so well and will stay with Nadal for a lot of this match if he settles down. He has never got a set against Nadal and that's strange because on paper he should do really well.

"He has a big serve, can hit backhands and forehands either way, unlike Federer, to mix it up. He has grown so much in confidence I think he'll get a set. He's been like a man possessed, but two days thinking about this match could get into his head."

Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live

Rafael Nadal's road to the final has been a bump-free cruise in an open-topped classic.

Bernard Tomic retired after just one set in the first round, and, then, there were green lights all the way to the fourth round as he whizzed by Thanaski Kokkinakis and Gael Monfils.

Kei Nishikori and Grigor Dimitrov made sure Nadal's blistering progress wasn't always at 100mph but, ultimately, they were left on the side roads, just as Roger Federer was after being blown away in the semi-final.

As you'd expect for a man who has reached a Grand Slam final for the first time, Wawrinka's Australian Open tale has been one full of highs.

His first-round opponent, Andrey Golubev, retired hurt while Vasek Pospisil withdrew before the start of the third round but, nevertheless, the 28-year-old has crushed those who have dared to cross his path.

Alejandro Falla? Gone. Tommy Robredo? Outta here. Novak Djokovic? Sorry, who? Tomas Berdych? Broken.

BBC Tennis: , externalWant more evidence that Nadal is favourite? Here you go...