MELBOURNE: World number one Andy Murray could face Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka in his top half of the draw if he is to reach a sixth Australian Open final following Friday's draw.
Murray, coming off a magnificent 2016 with a second Wimbledon crown, a successful Olympic title defence and the year-end top ranking, has lost five Melbourne finals, four of those to defending champion Novak Djokovic.
The Scot, who was knighted in Britain's New Year Honours list, faces Ukraine's Illya Marchenko first up and could meet Japanese fifth seed Nishikori in the quarters and 2014 winner Wawrinka in the semis.
Djokovic, in the bottom half of the men's draw as the second seed, has a tough first-round against experienced Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.
The Serb, bidding for a record seventh Australian Open title, is seeded to face Brisbane International winner Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round and Austrian eighth seed Dominic Thiem in the quarters.
He could then face Canada's big-serving third seed Milos Raonic in the semi-finals.
Roger Federer, seeded 17 and in Murray's top quarter of the draw, faces a qualifier first up as he bids to add to his record 17 Grand Slam titles.
Federer's great Grand Slam rival Rafael Nadal is seeded nine and is in Raonic's third quarter of the draw and in the bottom half with Djokovic.
Australia's great hope, the explosive Nick Kyrgios is seeded 14 and opens against Portugal's tricky Gastao Elias and could face Wawrinka in the fourth round.