Solid from Wawrinka. The first serves on target, the Djokovic return not in full swing yet. Three quick points and he's 40-0 up. On the final point we have a rally of shots, but it's over in a flash as Djokovic goes long, gifting the defending champion a hold to love.

Steve Pearce:, external Normally it's against Murray, but why are the semis on different days? Murray gets an extra day's rest, hardly fair.

Strap yourselves in, we have lift-off. Whistles as Djokovic jumps from his seat and strides towards the baseline to launch booming serves towards his opponent. Wawrinka tightens the cord around his shorts before he gets into position, which is a wise move as we don't want a flashing controversy to follow yesterday's swear-gate. Djokovic with a double fault which allows Wawrinka to nibble at his lead, but the Serb's serve is ultimately too hot to handle and he pulls through for a hold to 15.

John Lloyd
1977 Australian Open runner-up

"They have had a couple of epics recently but I think Novak will win. I don't think it will be as close as the other two, although I suppose it could hardly be much closer.

"Djokovic may lose a set but he has looked in tremendous shape. I was a bit surprised Stan got to the semi-finals because his form has been up and down. However, he did play very well in the quarter-final against Kei Nishikori.

"But Djokovic will get too many balls back, put him in too many uncomfortable positions and Stan will make too many errors."

The players are going through the final stages of their warm-up, just a minute or so until the match gets under way.

The task before defending champion Stan Wawrinka today is a taxing one, though, because he has only beaten the world number one in three of their previous 19 encounters and he's playing the Serb on his favourite surface.

But Wawrinka has been in good form during this tournament, dropping just one set on his way to the last four. The only problem is, Djokovic has yet to drop a set in Melbourne.

Image source, Getty Images

If Novak Djokovic were to scroll down a list of his previous 19 encounters with Stanislas Wawrinka, he might come to a stop towards the bottom and wince.

"Close," the world number one might say, remembering his five-set win over the Swiss at the 2013 Australian Open. "Close again," he might add as he comes across another five-setter which ended in his favour at the 2013 US Open. "I can't take anymore of these marathon battles," would perhaps be his response were he to look back to last year's Australian Open quarter-final which went the distance, with Wawrinka the victor.

Image source, other

Stan Warkina and Novak Djokovic are walking through the bowels of Rod Laver Arena. The Swiss moves his head from side to side, attempting to get rid of the tension in his neck, before he walks out onto the court. What we want to know is who do you want Andy Murray to face in the final? Wawrinka or Djokovic?

You can vote on the right-hand side of the page or via the vote tab on your mobile or tablet. It's just for fun.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Image source, Getty Images

"Fifteen-year-old Katie Swan from Bristol has reached the final of the girls' singles in Melbourne. Despite dropping the opening set 6-0, she beat the fifth seed Dalma Galfi 7-5 in the decider.

"Swan won 0-6 7-6 7-5 and it was as gutsy a performance as you'll see. After leaning on the railings catching her breath, she was happy to sign a few autographs.

"She looked down and out in the third set as she suffered with cramp, but she saved three-match points. A mighty effort over two hours and 36 minutes. And her prize? A final on Rod Laver Arena, where she will face Slovakia's Tereza Mihalikova on Saturday."

Image source, Piers Newbery

Before I type some more Djokovic and Wawrinka chat, I should tell you about the Briton who beat the best player in the world but was left disappointed.

Image source, AFP

That's what has happened to Andy Lapthorne in the quad wheelchair singles because he beat world number one David Wagner 6-3 7-5, but it was not enough for him to make the final.

The 24-year-old Englishman said on Twitter: "It's not often you beat the world number one 6-3 7-5 and get nothing from it. Missed out on the final by one game on games count back. Gutted is not the word but I blew it yesterday."

Image source, Stan Wawrinka

Wawrinka has been relaxed enough in the build-up, posting this on Instagram , externalfrom the locker room: "It's that time of the year again?!.... #Tennis #Battle #Respect"

Image source, Getty Images

Anyway, instead of speculating about what was said and what could be said, there's a semi-final ding-dong to focus on with the winner to face Andy Murray in Sunday's final. As the Briton admitted yesterday, whoever has tickets for this clash are very lucky indeed because if history is our barometer then it should be a five-set epic.

Sears isn't the only significant other whose emotions have got the better of her, with Roger Federer's wife, Mirka, apparently calling Stan Wawrinka a cry-baby at the O2 in London last year. Will we have to cover our ears today? Novak Djokovic's wife, Jelena, has not flown to Melbourne as she is looking after their newborn baby Stefan, but I can't vouch for Wawrinka's other half.

Image source, The times

And The Times also has picture of the future Mrs Murray with the caption "did I say that?"

Image source, Guardian

Hopefully someone is keeping copies of today's newspapers for Kim Sears and, hopefully, Sears has plenty of Pritt Stick because there's lots of material to cut out for the scrapbook. She's even made the front pages of the broadsheets, with the Guardian printing pictures of said outburst.

John Lloyd
1977 Australian Open runner-up

"Murray admitted he and his supporters were pushed to the limit during his semi-final win over Berdych, with Kim Sears apparently caught on camera swearing.

"But Andy loves it when those in his supporters' box are very involved. Cheering, eye contact and so on. He will be very happy to know how much Kim is involved in the match.

"I'm sure he will want to deflect that so it doesn't take away from what is coming up.

"But it won't affect him in the final that is for sure."

Image source, Getty Images

Heated words were said between both players during the semi-final and Murray has put the atmosphere down to the pre-match focus on his former coach, Dani Vallverdu, who is now working with Berdych.

The Scot has also defended his soon-to-be wife, who was caught on camera apparently swearing. "In the heat of the moment, you can say stuff that you regret," said the British number one.

Should Sears be sorry for swearing or was her cursing just a sign of true love?

Hello! So, Kim Sears has a broader vocabulary than many of us would have predicted. What exactly did Andy Murray's fiancee say during her beau's semi-final win over Tomas Berdych? If I were to repeat lip readers' suggestions, this live text commentary would quickly close down and I would be booted out.

Image source, Patrick Scala

Tennis, eh. A tense duel, a battle of minds as well as skill. A sport where participants often flap and crack under pressure, resembling characters in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and spectators are left effing and jeffing on the sidelines. Even a fan who always looks so sweet and immaculate can turn the air blue with a colourful potty-mouth outburst. Tennis, eh.

Image source, Patrick Scala