Lleyton Hewitt stands within one win of a coveted place in the Australian Open final after outlasting dogged Argentine David Nalbandian in another drama-charged five-set classic at Melbourne Park.

Hewitt again overcame injury and a mid-match lapse to post a fighting 6-3 6-2 1-6 3-6 10-8 victory in a quarter-final war of attrition stretching four hours and five minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

The South Australian's heroic triumph set up a mouth-watering confrontation with world No.2 Andy Roddick on Friday.

For the second match in succession, Hewitt dropped two sets in a row in meek fashion before seeking a medical timeout for treatment for a hip flexor strain.

After dominating the first two sets with his most impressive serving of the championships, Hewitt's game began to unravel as the injury began to limit his movement and power.

Hewitt, the first Australian man since John Newcombe in 1970 to have reached the quarter-finals of four consecutive grand slam tournaments, had entered the match with a cloud over his fitness after battling the injury throughout his Open campaign.

ATP trainer Per Pastholt said the 23-year-old was suffering with muscle inflammation from over-use, after Hewitt played five matches in five days in Sydney the week before arriving in Melbourne.

In addition, Australia's world No.3 was kept on court for almost 10 and a half hours before reaching the last eight of his home grand slam for the first time.

But neither player, clashing for the first time since Hewitt destroyed Nalbandian for the loss of just six games in the 2002 Wimbledon final, could boast an ideal preparation.

The South American had spent almost 13 hours toiling away for his quarter-final berth and also needed treatment, for blisters, after the fourth set.

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