By SBS's Glenn Osborne in Melbourne
On one side is Kim Clijsters, chasing her first Australian Open title and third Grand Slam win as a mother – equalling a record set more than 30 years ago by our own Margaret Court.
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On the other is Li Na, a 28-year-old veteran of the women's circuit who is only now finding her niche – and is the first Chinese woman to reach a Grand Slam final.
Both women though will bring similar traits to the court tonight, as both are supremely powerful from the back of the court and look to dominate their opponent.
All the obvious tips will be for Clijsters, affectionately known in these parts as "Aussie Kim".
The former world number one has looked in stunning form in this tournament and will rightly start as favourite.
In the last week, she has moved into third on the all-time money winners list, ahead of true greats of the game like Steffi Graf and Justine Henin. She holds a remarkable 37-8 record at Melbourne Park. All the history and statistics point in her direction.
But she'll face a woman for whom history and statistics mean very little.
Li Na may be the ninth seed but she's looked more and more like a champion-in-waiting the longer the Open has gone on. And she doesn't know when she's beaten.
She saved a match point during the second set against the world number one, Caroline Wozniacki, before winning in three sets. It was a stunning turnaround. Li hits with immense power and accuracy and will no doubt give Clijsters her toughest test yet.
And what will give her even greater confidence will be the result of the Sydney International just a few weeks ago – from 5-0 down in the first set she won the final in straight sets … against Clijsters.
I'm going to stick my neck out and predict a landmark first win for an Asian woman at a Grand Slam.
Li Na in three sets.
