Bernard Tomic will lean on Lleyton Hewitt to formulate a game plan to topple Tomas Berdych and become the first local men's quarter-finalist at the Australian Open in a decade.
Not since Hewitt lost the final of the centenary championships in 2005 to Marat Safin has an Australian made the last eight of the men's singles at Melbourne Park.
But Tomic and teenage ace Nick Kyrgios now both have the chance after notching classy straight-set third-round victories on Friday night.
Tomic upstaged late-blooming countryman Sam Groth 6-4 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 in a high-quality serving duel before Kyrgios dispatched Tunisian surprise packet Malek Jaziri 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 6-1.
Tomic was particularly impressive, claiming the only two service breaks and saving a set point in the pivotal second-set tiebreaker to trump the tournament's ace leader in one hour and 43 minutes.
But having lost his two previous tour meetings with Berdych, both in four sets on Wimbledon's grass courts in 2013 and 2014, the 22-year-old knows he needs a special performance on Sunday to keep his Open hopes alive.
Enter Hewitt.
"Yeah, I'm hitting with Lleyton tomorrow, which is very good for me," Tomic said.
"(I'll) talk to Rusty about playing Tomas. I'm excited for this next round. Targeting to win, and we'll see. We'll see."
Eager to get back into the groove after a match against Groth devoid of any meaningful long rallies, Tomic was quick to sound out Hewitt.
"He said yes. Very nice of him. It's good to see he supports everyone. Not just myself, but Nick," Tomic said.
"He's an amazing character, an amazing guy. I respect him so much. I'm sure everybody respects Lleyton a lot.
"For me, if I hit with him tomorrow there's a big chance, a big opportunity."
Despite his superior head-to-head record, Berdych knows he has a battle on his hands.
"I've played Tomic a couple of times in slams at Wimbledon and they were both very tough matches," he said after beating Viktor Troicki in straight sets on Friday.
"He really loves to play on grass and they weren't easy matches at all, but here there's always a bit extra for him playing in front of home crowds.
"He's not an easy opponent at all."
As Groth found out on Margaret Court Arena.
Tomic played a great opening set, committing just three unforced errors and claiming the only service break in the third game when Groth double-faulted at 15-40.
It was the only invitation Tomic needed as he took the set in 27 minutes.
Groth created the first set point in the second-set breaker, but his booming serve failed him, the 27-year-old double-faulting at the worst possible time.
Groth saved two set points with unreturnable deliveries but a backhand return long gave Tomic a two-set-to-love lead and stranglehold on the match.
Tomic broke again in the third game of the third set before holding firm to march on.
Kyrgios will play Andreas Seppi in the fourth round after the Italian stunned four-time champion Roger Federer in four sets.
Kyrgios beat the Italian at last year's US Open in straight sets and a repeat win would catapult the 19-year-old into a marquee quarter-final against either Andy Murray or Grigor Dimitrov.
"I'm really looking forward to it," Kyrgios said.
"But now I've got to prepare and do everything right."
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