It's Amelie vs Justine

Two more different players couldn't be lining up for the Australian Open women's final than Amelie Mauresmo and Justine Henin-Hardenne.

Once infamously referred to as "half man" by Martina Hingis, the imposing Mauresmo is a power player of the new order, weighing in at 69kg and standing 5ft 9ins tall.

On the other side of the net is the petite Henin-Hardenne, a tigerish baseliner 10 kilograms lighter and four inches shorter.

While their physiques couldn't be more different, they have one thing in common -- they are playing some of the best tennis of their lives.

Henin-Hardenne holds the upper hand in having won their last two encounters, in the final of the 2004 Athens Olympics and in Toronto last year.

Overall, the Belgian has a 4-3 win record against the French star.

Mauresmo has been in ominous form since winning the season-ending WTA Tour Championship last year and fought her way into the final when Kim Clijsters retired injured down 2-3 in the third set, giving the Frenchwoman a 5-7, 6-2, 3-2 triumph.

As a 19-year-old, she lost in the final here in 1999 to Hingis, when the infamous "half man" comment was made, but she says she has learnt a lot since then.

"I've been waiting for this for so long ... like everyone else I grew up, I got more mature and I know a little bit more what I have learned now," said the now 25-year-old.

"Seven years ago I was only 19, so I'm older now and it's good to get into the final again."

It is a major breakthrough for Mauresmo, who despite maturing has subsequently failed to make another Grand Slam final, stretching over 24 attempts.

To win her first Grand Slam title she will have to grind down Henin-Hardenne, who has an amazing record in Australia, unbeaten in 20 matches including her Sydney and Australian Open titles in 2004 and her run in 2006.

She missed the 2005 Open with injuries, which dogged her for much of last year.

"I watched a little bit of the first semi-final," said Mauresmo. "She's a tough fighter, great player, and she has a lot of experience.

"I know it's going to be a tough one, and I know we both want the title, we're both going to fight for it."

On Thursday, Henin-Hardenne again showed the battling qualities that have won her four Grand Slam titles, coming back from a set down against Russian fourth seed Maria Sharapova to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Installed as the bookies' favourite early in the tournament, she has lost only one of her five Grand Slam final appearances, at Wimbledon in 2001.

Regardless of what happens in the final on Saturday, she is just happy to be there after her injury-riddled season last year.

"No matter what happens on Saturday, I think I can be proud of my comeback. For sure I have a lot of ambition. I want to get it. So we'll see. The best will win," she said, adding that she saw it as a title defence.

"I think I had a little bit of revenge to come here," she said.

"I hope I can do it on Saturday because I didn't lose a match in Australia in 2004, and didn't lose yet any match here this year.

"I hope I can keep going this way. I love this tournament, and it's a lot of good memories, so I hope I can do it again."