Ignoring medical advice and seemingly oblivious to pain, wounded warrior Kim Clijsters is bracing herself for another torrid test of her Australian Open title defence on Thursday.

Immediately after dethroning Dane Caroline Wozniacki, Clijsters was preparing for an even greater challenge in the semi-finals against third seed Victoria Azarenka, the world No.1 wannabe riding a 10-match hot streak in 2012.

“Tough player. Tough match. She’s playing extremely well, playing with a lot of confidence and she’s going to be a completely different match,” Clijsters said.

“She takes a lot more initiative. Hits a lot down the middle of the court – deep, hard.

“So it’s going to be very important to be dominant. She’s improved a lot on her fitness and her movement, which was definitely a weakness in the past.”

“I’ll have to play some of my best tennis to try and beat her.”

Clijsters, who on Wednesday refused a scan of her injured left ankle, having already had MRIs on her hip and neck this Australian summer, enjoys a 4-2 winning record over Azarenka.

But even Azarenka, despite trying her best to block out the external pressure of also fighting for the world’s top ranking at Melbourne Park, agrees she is a vastly different player to when she last lost to the Belgian in Sydney 12 months ago.

The 22-year-old Belarusian has since risen from 10th in the rankings, reached her maiden grand slam semi-final at Wimbledon and made the title match at the season-ending championships in Istanbul.

“All those experiences that I had last year, those tough matches, some disappointing losses, that can bring a little bit of a learning experience,” Azarenka said.

“Take me to a different mentality and different approach of a particular moment, particular game, particular shot.

“So I think it’s a learning experience.”

Still, Azarenka recognises Clijsters, as a four-times grand slam champion and former world No.1, as a big challenge.

“Kim is a great champion. She knows how to be in the situation, handle big matches,” the third seed said.

“But we’ll see. I just try to stay fresh out there and keep playing my game.”

Azarenka and Thursday’s two other semi-finalists – Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova – are in a three-way battle to supplant Wozniacki as world No.1 after the Open.

“I’d be a liar if I say I don’t think about it,” Azarenka said.

“It’s a little bit in the back of my mind. But I just try to take it day by day and we’ll see in one week.

“I’m really focused on my game.”

As is Clijsters, who said she was prepared to fight through the pain barrier in her Open swan song.

The 28-year-old missed most of last season after winning the title and has yet to recapture top form, but is hoping her big-match experience would see her through to a ninth grand slam final on Saturday.

“Experience is something that I definitely have,” said the seven-times Open semi-finalist.

“You feel when you play against players, even if you’re not playing your best tennis maybe like I have been in the last couple matches, you always feel like you’re in the match.

“That’s a good feeling to have.”