Pat Rafter has a problem.

Playing in his last Wimbledon, the Australian third seed would dearly love another crack at the title that eluded him last year when he "choked" in the final against Pete Sampras.

His progress has so far been impressively smooth.

And in theory Saturday's third-round match against Moroccan Hicham Arazi should present no problems.

It is arguably the biggest rugby union match since the world cup final, but Rafter says he'll have to miss it.

"If I am playing late I might try to watch it but otherwise I'll be trying to pull myself away from it.

"I will try not to watch it if I can. You know, it's like a sex thing, control yourself if you can!"

"I mean I don't want to get too pumped up. I don't want to come down if they lose and try to beat the stuffing out of some English guy."

Except the typically Aussie Rafter did not use the word stuffing, just another four-letter word beginning with S.

It is one of the reasons Rafter is such a favourite not just with his countrymen - to whom he embodies all that is good about the straight-talking, mischief-making, sport-loving Australian.

Several distractions

Journalists also love him also, for pretty much the same reason.

He is a breath of fresh air in the high-pressure, intense world of the tennis tour; the sort of guy with whom you could sink a Castelmaine XXXX.

The beer they drink in his home state of Queensland, for whom he will also be rooting for during Sunday's State of Origin game deicider against New South Wales.

The match is the highlight of the Australian rugby league calendar.

But as Rafter says: "I was sort of brought up in rugby league but you know, rugby union, cricket, whatever is Australian, I'll watch."

He's threatening to wear a green and gold headband during his match to show his allegiance to the cause of John Eales and his men.

"I think it's a 50-50 game. The Lions are a very good team and it should be a great game."

One of the features of this year's Wimbledon has been the huge number of Australian fans pouring into SW19.

Many are living here but many others are in England to follow Steve Waugh and the Australian cricket team in the Ashes tour.

The first Test is on Thursday at Edgbaston - and if Rafter makes it to the quarter-finals he could have another clash of loyalties.