Unseeded Russian Elena Vesnina is expecting to be engaged in a game of cat-and-mouse when she takes on top seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the ASB Classic tennis quarter-finals in Auckland.

Vesnina, 26, is familiar with her Polish opponent’s play, having met her three times before.

The 23-year-old Radwanska, the world No.4, holds a 2-1 advantage from those matches.

The last was at Wimbledon last year when Radwanska, noted for her variety of shot and court craft rather than power play, made it as far as the final, losing to Serena Williams in a three-setter.

“She was on fire,” Vesnina recalled of Radwanska’s form that fortnight.

“Agnieszka is a very smart player. She makes you feel a little bit like she is playing cat with a mouse and making you run all over the court.”

Vesnina said the key for her in Auckland on Thursday will be a mix of composure and aggression.

“I have to use my power, my serve,” she said.

“She’s not that powerful a player. She’s very good at using pace, changing direction, and it’s always tough to play against someone like that.”

Vesnina, the world No.68, has a good record in Auckland.

In 2009, she finished runner-up behind top-seeded compatriot Elena Dementieva, while she reached the quarter-finals last January.

Radwanska, who had a routine 6-3 6-1 win over Romanian Simona Halep on Wednesday, is one of three seeds left in the last eight.

The others are Belgian third seed Yanina Wickmayer and eighth-seeded German Mona Barthel.

Wickmayer, the Classic champion in 2010 and runner-up the year after, will face compatriot Kirsten Flipkens.

Barthel will meet Swede Johanna Larsson, who put out No.2 seed Julia Goerges in a lengthy three-setter.

The last quarter-final pits American Jamie Hampton and Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens.

Hampton’s two victims so far this week have been defending champion and fourth seed Zheng Jie of China, and hometown favourite Marina Erakovic.