A year ago it took a big Russian to stop Roger Federer [Images]. The question this time is whether Andy Roddick [Images], Lleyton Hewitt [Images], David Nalbandian and company have what it takes to beat the masterful Swiss at the Australian Open.

In an injury-depleted men's singles, Federer is an overwhelming favourite to win his second title in Melbourne and make up for his semi-final defeat by Marat Safin [Images] in 2005.

His chances have increased significantly with the withdrawals through injury of Safin, world number two Rafael Nadal [Images] and four times champion Andre Agassi [Images].

"I think Roger's got to go down as one of the biggest favourites of all time this year," said Hewitt. "I think Roger is probably cruising through right at the moment."

Federer's record in last year's Grand Slams give his opponents little comfort - semi-finals at the Australian and French Open, winner of Wimbledon and the US Open.

He also claimed the Qatar Open title without losing a set in his first outing of 2006.

The one question mark hangs over Federer's ability to play through two weeks in the heat of the Australian summer after he injured his ankle late last year.

"The rhythm is there and I'm happy with the way I'm hitting the ball. Once again the start of the year has been good and I'm really anxious to start the Australian Open," said Federer, the winner of six Grand Slam titles.

Roddick's chances of winning his first Melbourne crown have improved after Spanish teenager Nadal lost his fitness battle.

The American has been elevated to second seed, saving the American from a possible confrontation with his nemesis Federer until the January 29 final.

"I don't base my prospects on people pulling out," said Roddick. "You have to beat the players playing best."

Roddick has won just once in 11 meetings with Federer and has come off second best in the last two Wimbledon finals.

FEDERER STATISTICS

Local hopes will rest again on third seed Lleyton Hewitt, who faces a possible semi-final against Federer and lost to Safin in last year's final.

Hewitt has dismissed Federer's unexpected defeat by German Tommy Haas in the Kooyong invitational warm-up this week as irrelevant, and the Australian knows better than most that the statistics point to Federer lifting the Melbourne trophy.

That semi-final loss to Safin was the first of only four in 85 matches played by the world's number one last year.

Federer has won his last 45 competitive matches on hardcourt, the surface in Melbourne. Hewitt has lost his last nine matches against the 24-year-old.

Hewitt's own form remains something of a mystery after he lost in the Sydney International this week to Italian Andreas Seppi. The feisty Australian is recovering from a stomach bug which almost forced him to pull out of his first round match in Sydney.

Hewitt will have plenty to concentrate on at Melbourne Park before he begins to think about Federer. He faces a second round match against either rising British talent Andy Murray or tough Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela.

One man who has proved he has no fear of Federer is fourth seed David Nalbandian. The Argentine came from two sets down to win the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai and end the Swiss player's run of 24 consecutive final victories.

Nalbandian, who pulled out of Kooyong with a viral infection, could go beyond the quarter-finals in Melbourne for the first time after he was drawn in the bottom half of the men's singles -- away from Federer.

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