World No.1 Novak Djokovic has ominously warned rivals coveting his Australian Open crown that he is feeling extremely fresh ahead of the business end of the tournament.
Having not played any lead-up tournaments in 2012 before arriving at Melbourne Park, the Serbian 24-year-old has been barely extended in three matches so far at Rod Laver Arena, giving away just 10 games in total in spending only four-and-a-half hours on court.
And it is with that in mind that Djokovic, who won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open crowns last year to ascend the throne as the world's best player, said his comfortable progression to the fourth round has been a good thing not a negative.
"Yeah, it's really important (to feel fresh)," Djokovic said following his 6-0 6-1 6-1 hammering of wounded Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.
"The positive out of this first week is obviously my performance that has been great."
"I didn't spend that much time on the court (but) I don't think I'm lacking any match play, I don't think I'm lacking any practice (as) I've had lots of practice in the last five, six weeks."
"In some ways maybe some would think the match play is going to affect maybe my next match, that I'm going to play somebody who is, you know, more difficult opponent, I guess, higher ranked."
"But I don't think so because I've had enough matches, especially in 2011 (and) I've had a lot of practice."
"So, as I said before, I think the advantage of it is that I didn't spend that much energy, you know, so I'm getting fresh into the second week."
Hoping that Saturday night's match to decide his next opponent, between local hope Lleyton Hewitt and Canadian slugger Milos Raonic, 'goes the distance', Djokovic spoke again of how much he likes playing at Melbourne Park.
"I'm happy with the way my first week went here in Australia, and hopefully I can continue the same way in the second one," he added.
"I always played well in Australia ... the conditions are great, they're very suitable to my style of the game, day and night."
And Djokovic hasn't lost any of his hunger to repeat his feats of last year, even though it will take a huge effort to do so.
"It is the way it is, I don't want to spend my time and energy thinking about dropping points," he said.
"I'm really thinking only about improving my game, improving myself, staying really focused."
"The bottom line is that, you know, I'm 24."
"I feel that I'm playing the best tennis of my life, I'm at the peak, so I should use every moment and enjoy my tennis."