Rafael Nadal will play Novak Djokovic for the world No.2 ranking in tennis when they meet in the Hamburg Masters semi-finals.
Nadal has been ranked second for a record 147 consecutive weeks, but the Spaniard will be overtaken by Djokovic if the Australian Open champion wins Saturday's showdown.
Roger Federer won't have such problems.
His No.1 slot is not under threat - yet - and the defending champion plays unseeded Andreas Seppi in the other semi-final.
Federer is seeking his fifth title in Hamburg.
The top three players in the world all advanced in straight sets from today's quarter-finals. None have lost a set so far.
Federer cruised past Fernando Verdasco 6-3 6-3, Djokovic beat Albert Montanes 6-2 6-3, Nadal, last year's runner-up, topped his mentor and friend, the 11th-seeded Carlos Moya, 6-1 6-3.
Nadal would have been replaced as No.2 already today had he lost to Moya.
But the younger of the two Spaniards came through under pressure and rolled past Moya, losing his serve only once in the match.
"It may be a little more important than a normal Masters Series semi-final, but it's not very special. It's not for No.1," Nadal said.
"I know very well what it's like to be No.2. I've been there a long time."
Djokovic, now No.3, said he preferred to wrest the higher ranking from Nadal personally.
"It's always a better feeling to deserve it," the Serb said.
Djokovic said it would be a special match, "but I am not trying to think about it and create extra pressure."
"I will try to approach it as any other match," he said.
Djokovic has lost all three previous matches against Nadal on clay and the triple French Open champion leads the series 6-3.
But Djokovic leads the tour this year with three tournament titles. Apart from the Australian Open, the first grand slam of his career, Djokovic also won the Masters Series event in Indian Wells - beating Nadal in the final - and last week's Rome Masters.
"I've gained mental experience and physical strength. I feel at the top," Djokovic said.
Nadal won the Monte Carlo Masters and the Barcelona tournament before losing his opening match in Rome while suffering from a blister on his right foot.
That was only his second loss in 108 matches on clay since April 2005.
The only other one was to Federer in the Hamburg final last year, which snapped Nadal's 81-match winning streak on clay.
