Andy Roddick will attempt to set up an all-American final when he takes on Rainer Schuettler in Melbourne on Friday.

With Andre Agassi through to his fourth Australian Open final, ninth seed Roddick is favourite to join him.

But Roddick will have to summon up all his reserves of strength after his draining quarter-final against Younes El Aynaoui which he won 21-19 in the fifth set.

And while the American was also taken to five sets by Mikhail Youzhny in the previous round, 31st seed Schuettler has dropped just two sets on his way to the last four.

Both players have been warned, however, that they are unlikely to stand a chance in the final against the in-form Agassi.

Agassi's semi-final victim Wayne Ferreira said: "If he plays like that on Sunday, I don't think either Andy or Rainer can have a chance.

The Williams sisters are also chasing the doubles title

"If anyone does, Andy will, just because he's got a huge serve and he's got some power - but I still don't think he's got a chance."

Venus and Serena Williams, who meet in the women's final on Saturday, will get the chance to make sure neither of them goes home from Australia empty handed.

The top seeds will team up in Friday's opening match in the Rod Laver Arena when they face second seeds Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suarez in the doubles final.

That will be followed by a mixed doubles semi-final in which fifth seeds Kevin Ullyett and Daniela Hantuchova take on Leander Paes and Martina Navratilova.