The crowd will be overwhelmingly for Hewitt, but that doesn't worry Safin, but it doesn't worry him. In fact, he relishes it.
"I don't think it's going to be a problem at all, the crowd," said Safin, who pointed that he has played in front of hostile Davis Cup fans in France -- and won.
"It will be helpful."
One advantage, at least on paper, is that he's fresher than last year, when he survived back-to-back five-set matches against Roddick in the quarterfinals and Andre Agassi in the semifinals, then came out flat against Federer. On his 25th birthday, he did play a 4 1/2-hour marathon to beat Federer, but had a much easier time before that and has had two days off before the final.
Hewitt, meanwhile, has struggled all the way, fighting problems with tight thighs while outlasting opponents and trying to become the first Aussie to win this event since Mark Edmondson in 1976. The last Aussie to reach the final was Pat Cash, who lost to Stefan Edberg in 1987 and Mats Wilander in 1988, both in five sets.
"I always said I'd give anything to play one match for the title here in Melbourne," he said. "I love this place. Now part of that dream has come true and I get a chance on Sunday night."
RSS