Andreas Seppi feels that he will face a massive challenge to defeat Nick Kyrgios in front of the 19-year-old's home crowd in the fourth round of the Australian Open.

The 30-year-old pulled off the shock of the tournament so far as he beat four-time champion Roger Federer in four sets to set up the meeting against Kyrgios.

However, the Italian has conceded that he will be very much the underdog in the fourth-round match, and has admitted that he will have to be at his best to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

"Nick, especially here in Australia, he wants to do well," Seppi told reporters.

"He has the crowd behind him. He is serving well. Maybe not so much a rhythm. He's always a player who involves a little bit the crowd, always get pumped, especially here in Australia. It's not going to be easy.

"But I think I have to approach it like today: go out there, enjoy the moment, just try to focus on my game, and try to play my best. Yeah."

Seppi has never reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam in his career.