Djokovic matched Roy Emerson's tally of six titles in Melbourne last year and the Serbian will break new ground if he retains his title this month.

The 12-time grand slam champion heads into the first major of the year buoyed by ending world number one Andy Murray's 28-match winning run in the final of the Qatar Open last weekend.

Djokovic, whose long stay at the top of the rankings was ended by Murray last November, is raring to go as he gears up for a tournament he has won in five of the last six years.

"Andy [Murray] has absolutely deserved to be the number one in the world. He's had a tremendous and special last six months of 2016." said the world number two.

"This year we've already played a thrilling match and I'm looking forward to our rivalry and many matches to come. In terms of my feelings in coming to Melbourne for the last five or six years, it's pretty much the same.

"I'm very pumped, if I may say, to do well. It's the beginning of the season and we already have our first grand slam.

"I'm not the only one who is excited but it definitely gives me a lot of goosebumps to come back."