Rafael Nadal celebrates his epic victory over Grigor Dmitrov ©Getty Images

Rafael Nadal set-up a dream Australian Open final against Roger Federer after defeating Grigor Dimitrov in a thrilling five-set dual today.

The Spaniard, who has suffered two injury-ravaged seasons since he last reached a Grand Slam final at the French Open in 2014, required over five hours to get the better of his Bulgarian opponent at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

Nadal's consistency and intensity of groundstrokes proved too much in the first set before Dmitrov showed superb fighting spirit to battle back.

The pair then exchanged tie breaks before Nadal prevailed in the fifth for a 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 6-4 victory.

He will now chase a 15th Grand Slam title against perennial foe Federer, who was also stretched to five sets before beating fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka yesterday.

"I never dreamed to be back in the final of the Australian Open," the 30-year-old admitted.

"It is a very special thing for both of us to be playing again in a major final. 

"Neither of us probably thought we would be here again."

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer pictured together following their epic Wimbledon final in 2008 ©Getty Images
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer pictured together following their epic Wimbledon final in 2008 ©Getty Images

Federer has an extra day to recover and spent almost two hours less on court in his last-four clash.

But Nadal has won 23 of her 34 career matches against the Swiss.

The two last met at the final of a Grand Slam at the French Open in 2011, when Nadal won in four sets.

Nadal's five set victory in the final of Wimbledon in 2008 is considered by many the greatest tennis match ever played. 

With Federer, 35, and sisters Venus and Serena Williams, 36 and 35, respectively, it means all four singles finallists are over the age of 30.

American Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Czech Lucie Safarova triumphed in the women's doubles ©Getty Images
American Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Czech Lucie Safarova triumphed in the women's doubles ©Getty Images

American Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Czech Lucie Safarova also claimed a second women's doubles victory at the Australian Open today.

The second-seeded pair had to recover from losing the first set before beating Czech Andrea Hlavackova and China's Peng Shuai 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3.

In the mixed doubles, second-seeds Ivan Dodig of Croatia and India's Sania Mirza reached the final after a thrilling win over Australian duo Sam Groth and Samantha Stosur 6-4, 2-6, 10-5.

Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and American Abigail Spears also progressed through today's semi-final courtesy of a 7-6(1), 6-2 triumph over Chris Guccione of Australia and Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.