* 4-Naomi Osaka (USA) v 28-Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) - Margaret Court Arena, Day

Osaka was blistering form through her early rounds, spending just two hours and two minutes on court to sweep aside Magda Linnette and Tamara Zidansek. The third round brings a step up in opponent class with the plucky Hsieh. Taiwan's best player defeated Aga Radwanska and Garbine Muguruza in a run to the fourth round last year, when she was edged by eventual champion Angelique Kerber.

* Dayana Yastremska (UKR) v 16-Serena Williams (USA) - Rod Laver Arena, Day

Serena Williams has lost just one of her last 23 matches in Melbourne; the 2016 final to Angelique Kerber. Opponent No.24 is teenage Ukrainian talent Dayana Yastremska. The world No.57 dismissed Samantha Stosur in round one, edged veteran Carla Suarez Navarro in round two, and clearly has the weapons to trouble Williams. The 18-year-old boasts a 7-2 winning record against top-50 players, so the legendary American will need to be switched on.

* 1-Novak Djokovic (SRB) v 25-Denis Shapovalov (CAN) - Rod Laver Arena, Day

Tennis' world No.1 meets a talent predicted to hold that position in future years. The raky Canadian has been tipped for superstardom since defeating Alex de Minaur in the 2016 Wimbledon boys final. The explosive 19-year-old has the world at his feet but hasn't arrived yet; his best slam performance was a fourth-round appearance at last year's US Open - though he did defeat Rafael Nadal on home soil in 2017.

* 4-Alex Zverev (GER) v Alex Bolt (AUS) - Rod Laver Arena, Night

Same name; completely different tennis pedigree. The German prodigy, born into a tennis family, has been groomed for superstardom that seems just around the corner. The world No.4 claimed the season-ending tour finals against hefty opposition and many tip his breakthrough slam win to come this week. The Australian Alex hadn't won a grand slam match until this week and now faces the highest-ranked opponent of his career on the biggest stage.

* 1-Simona Halep (ROM) v Venus Williams (USA) - Margaret Court Arena, Night

Rod Laver Arena hosts a meeting of the former Australian Open finalists, and if recent meetings are a guide, it won't be close. Halep hasn't struggled to dispatch Williams in previous meetings, losing just seven games in two past wins. But more recent form suggests a battle. Both women have needed three sets to win in their opening rounds, in case anyone doubted the 38-year-old's fighting qualities.

* 28-Lucas Pouille (FRA) v Alexei Popyrin (AUS) - Margaret Court Arena, Night

Popyrin's rise from obscurity into the big time was secured on Thursday night when he defeated an admittedly under-the-weather world No.8 Dominic Thiem for a place in the last 32. He's the youngest player left in the men's draw and has every chance of success against the hot-and-cold Frenchman. Pouille is undoubtedly a serious player but has a rotten record at Melbourne Park; this year was the first time in six attempts he's won a match.

Australian Associated Press