<div><p>MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The mind games have already started ahead of Sunday's Australian Open final between Roger Federer and Andy Murray.</p><p>Murray is brimming with confidence, saying he has the game to take down the world number one because he has done it six times before.</p><p>Federer believes Murray could get stage-fright because he has never beaten him in a grand slam and has the added pressure of trying to provide Britain with their first male champion at a grand slam in 74 years.</p><p>The verbal volleying has begun.</p><p>"I know he'd like to win the first for British tennis in, what is it, like 150,000 years?" Federer said.</p><p>"I think he really needs it more than I do, so I think the pressure's big on him. But we'll see how he's going to handle it. It's not going to be easy for him, that's for sure."</p><p>Federer is the undisputed master of the big occasion.</p><p>The 28-year-old has already played in 21 grand slam finals, winning 15. He has won the Australian Open three times and finished runner-up once, losing an epic five-set tussle with Rafa Nadal.</p><p>Murray has played in just one grand slam final, the 2008 U.S. Open, which he lost to Federer.</p><p>The Swiss believes that could still be playing on Murray's mind.</p><p>"Now that he didn't win the first one, I think it doesn't help for the second one around," Federer said.</p><p>"Plus he's playing me, who's won many grand slams prior to that, been able to win here three times, so I know what it takes and how to do it, which is definitely an advantage."</p><p>NERVES</p><p>Murray, 22, admitted he was stricken by nerves in his first grand slam appearance but is more experienced now and will handle his second final much better.</p><p>"I was obviously nervous, as everyone is going to be," he said. "I'd had a tough run through to the final.</p><p>"It just all came around so quick, I didn't have that much time to prepare myself for it whereas this time's obviously going to be different.</p><p>"Hopefully I'll play better. I'm sure I will."</p><p>Murray could hardly have asked for a better route to Sunday's championship decider at Melbourne Park. He has dropped only one set in the tournament, in his semi-final against Marin Cilic, and has been in devastating form.</p><p>His victory over Nadal in the quarter-finals was breathtaking and he pulled off two magical shots against Cilic that were among the best ever seen on a tennis court.</p><p>Federer made a slow start to the championship, struggling to beat first round opponent Igor Andreev but has been steadily improving with each match.</p><p>He survived a tough quarter-final against Nikolay Davydenko then was in brilliant form in his semi-final demolition of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and looks to be peaking at the right time.</p><p>"Roger's record in slams speaks for itself," said Murray.</p><p>"If I'm going to play against him, it will take a special performance to win against him but I feel like I can do that.</p><p>"Physically I'm going to be a lot fresher and just play better.</p><p>"I have a game that can cause Roger problems. I just need to play my best tennis for five sets to beat him."</p><p>(Editing by Peter Rutherford)</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=68153175&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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