Danger looms for Tim

Lisnard is a potent opponent having had his finest year in 2003, breaking into the top 100 for the first time and reaching a quarter-final in Chennai. He was knocked out of the Australian Open last year in the second round by Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Henman and Rusedski missed the Australian Open last year and the only way they can meet is in the semi-finals - a highly unlikely scenario given than neither player has made it to a quarter-final before Down Under. Henman has been knocked out at the fourth round stage three times while Rusedski has only got that far once.

The British number two will have to serve at his best to survive against Costa, who reached the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park in 1997.

Andy Roddick will receive a baptism of fire at his first grand slam as No1 seed after being drawn against Fernando Gonzalez in the first round.

The American world No1 and Chilean Gonzalez, ranked 35th but no stranger to the top 20, have met twice before in 2002 and the honours were split. "It's a tough first round," said Roddick today said at the Kooyong warm-up event where he lost to Nalbandian.

Champion Andre Agassi, in Roddick's top half of the draw, will have the weight of a home crowd against him in his opener when he takes to the court against wildcard Todd Larkham.

In the women's section, fifth seed Lindsay Davenport, the only former champion in the women's draw, faces Romanian Ruxandra Dragomir, although a shoulder injury forced the American to withdraw from her semi-final with world No1 Justine Henin-Hardenne at the Sydney International today. "There's a chance it will heal completely if I give it three or four days' rest," said Davenport.

Top seed Henin-Hardenne drew Australian 15- year- old Olivia Lukaszewicz and faces a possible rematch of last year's epic quarterfinal against Davenport. Lukaszewicz is ranked 922nd in the world and 34th in her country.