How are your nerves? Imagine there are two blokes pacing around the Rod Laver Arena locker room with a slightly higher-than-usual heartbeat.

The players receive the call from a bloke called Joel inside the referee's office to get moving. A very formal call it turns out.

"Will the following players please report to the practice desk for your escort. Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray."

They're on their way...

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Let's go back to this time last year...

Andy Murray was level with Novak Djokovic at one set all and he was two games to the good in the third. And then he unravelled. He lost the final two sets 6-3- 6-0. The crown was Djokovic's again.

Is he better prepared this time around? "I hope so," Murray told BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller. 

"If you want to win against Novak, then you need to keep up your intensity. Last year I didn't do that. 

"If I do get ahead in the match I need to keep doing what I'm doing and maintain my concentration."

So Murray will be hoping to get this one done and dusted as soon as possible. Which, according to ATP tactical guru Craig O'Shannessy, is good news for the Briton.

Because he thinks that Murray come out swinging if he is to finally bag that Aussie Open title.

"Attack early. Attack often. The script has already been written on what happens if the points are continually extended," he says., external

"By far and away Murray’s best chance of winning is to go toe-to-toe with aggression at the start of the point.

"Stand your ground. Be the first to throw a punch. Dominate the centre of the ring."

David Charlton: Looking forward to Aus Open. Hoping today is when Murray's career really kicks on. Patience and resilience required!

Gordon Fisken: It's 3am here in Toronto. I've ruined my sleep pattern to (hopefully) see Murray get one over on the Djok!

Of course, the heavily-pregnant Kim Murray will be watching from the comfort of an expensively-upholstered sofa back at their Surrey home.

Andy's mind during this tournament has been distracted by matters back home, where his good lady is about to give birth to their first child.

And Murray is so keen to get home that the chat is he will scarper from Melbourne almost as soon as he lifts/watches Novak lift the winner's trophy. 

A 3:30am flight from Sydney to London awaits apparently...

Of course, it was the same occasion 12 months ago that Murray's missus Kim wore that jumper.

For those of you who struggle to remember last week never mind last year, she donned a top emblazoned with the sort of image that you'd see on the front of an Eminem album. 

Why? Because she was caught on camera dropping a few expletives as her man beat Tomas Berdych in the 2015 semi-final.

But she won't be shuffling uncomfortably in Murray's box today...

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Image source, Reuters

Boris Becker is the man behind the throne - or at least one of the men helping Djokovic hoover up titles. The German won the title in 1991 and 1996, so he knows a thing or two about success in Melbourne.

Whatever Boris was whispering in Novak's ear on Rod Laver Arena earlier, he made sure no watching lip readers could uncover their cunning gameplan...

Murray was out on Rod Laver Arena earlier today under the watchful eye of coach Amelie Mauresmo, who has the mighty task of coming up with a game plan to defeat a five-time champion.

And Mauresmo will also be responsible for filling Muzza's head with positive thoughts.

"This will come down to her," says John Lloyd, an Australian Open finalist in 1977. 

"They will be thinking and talking about the two Grand Slam finals Andy has beaten Novak in and won't be thinking about the losses.

"Draw on the positives, you've beaten him before and you can do it again. It's not as if he is getting wiped off the floor when he loses."

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It's all bloomin' doom and gloom isn't it?! Not really. Murray, you might know, isn't a bad tennis player himself.

And his two Grand Slam wins - the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon - were both clinched when Djokovic was stood at the other side of the net chord in the final.

"I’ve also played him so many times to know some of the things that make him uncomfortable as well.," says Murray.

"I’ll try to use all those other matches to my advantage."

Aaron Bass: Would love it if Andy Murray could do it today. But after the disappointment of last four times, no expectations!!  

Jenny Pallister: Feeling nervous for Andy Murray today. I'm up too early for it and can't get back to sleep.

BBC Radio 5 live's David Law and Russell Fuller have confirmed it will be an outdoor session at the Rod Laver Arena, at least to start with today.

It's been pretty stormy in Melbourne this week.

I've got more bad omens. I'm sorry.

Murray has lost 21 of the pair's 30 meetings. And Djokovic is purring at the moment.

The 10-time Grand Slam winner cruised past Roger Federer - you know, that guy considered by many as the greatest bloke to have played the sport - in Thursday's semi-final.

Even Murray knows no-one is giving him a prayer. "I don't think many people are expecting me to win. I have to just believe in myself," says the 28-year-old Scot.

In case you didn't know (and I'm sure you do), Murray is competing in is fifth Aussie Open final.

His record in the previous four? LLLL.

And three of those have been at the hands of that dastardly Mr Djokovic, including a meek surrender in last year's showpiece. Not a great omen... 

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Of course, nemesis can also have a darker description - enemy, for example, or arch-rival. Think Harry Potter and Voldemort. Or Tom and Jerry. Or Ken Barlow and Mike Baldwin. You get the picture.

Despite Andy Murray's dark stare in the picture below, he's actually pretty friendly with Novak Djokovic after growing up on the Tour together.

But, boy, the Briton is desperate to shove the steely Serb out of the picture and get his mitts on that shiny silver cup today.

Nemesis /nɛmɪsɪs/ noun

Def: The inescapable agent of someone’s or something’s downfall

That's the accepted definition of the word which is often used in a sporting context to describe that pesky opponent who one just cannot get the better of when it matters.

The dusty dictionary on Andy Murray's bookshelf might as well have a picture of Novak Djokovic under that entry...

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