Rafter has admitted he would even be willing to share a room with his taller compatriot.

The pair have failed to communicate with each other on good terms ever since Rafter criticised Philippoussis of pulling out of July's Davis Cup semifinal aganist Brazil.

But with the Sydney Games starting in less than a week Rafter says that he wants to settle their differences.

"If I see him, I'll be very happy to go up and say g'day," said Rafter.

Failure

"I don't want to make it uncomfortable for him - I'm very happy to sit down and talk and just try and be in a really good team atmosphere."

The ongoing row began in 1998 when Philippoussis withdrew from the Davis Cup match with Zimbabwe, which Australia lost.

This was followed by the "Scud's" failure to take part in the Brazil tie prompting Rafter to tell him to stop "jerking" around with his team-mates.

"If we're rooming together we've really got to clean it then," added Rafter.

"It's a tricky one but I think over time I think it can work itself out."