Rod Laver Arena holds a special place in heart of world No.5 Karolina Pliskova.

The Czech gun won the Australian Open junior title there seven years ago and she is hoping to complete the set with a breakthrough senior grand slam title.

Her campaign gets underway on Tuesday against Spaniard Sara Tormo Sorribes.

“It was my first grand slam that I played so obviously the final was on Rod Laver, it was huge for me,” 24-year-old Pliskova said.

“I was small and scared, and then I won so it was a big thing; the first big result that I ever had.”

Pliskova came achingly close to her first major last year, losing the US Open final to current world No.1 Angelique Kerber in three sets.

She started the new season by winning the title in Brisbane and felt good about her chances in Melbourne – athough said the field was wide open.

“I would definitely not take me as a favourite of this tournament,” she said.

“Everyone was working hard in the off-season, so it’s tough to say.

“We will just see after a few rounds here.”

Pliskova’s match is the first up on Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday, followed by six-time champion Serena Williams, who is taking on Swiss Belinda Bencic.

Rafael Nadal, now the world No.9, then faces German Florian Mayer.

Sydney International champion Brit Johanna Konta faces Belgian Kirsten Flipkins on Margaret Court Arena before world No.3 and 2016 semi-finalist Milos Raonic plays a first-round clash with German Dustin Brown.

On other courts, local teenage wildcard Lizette Cabrera plays Croatian Donna Vekic while Australian Open wildcard playoff winner Omar Jasika – up against Spanish veteran David Ferrer – is among six local men featuring on the day two program.