Federer is ranked world number one by a huge margin -- almost 1,000 computer points -- having played three fewer tournaments than his closest rival Andy Roddick.

But still the supremely gifted, 22-year-old Swiss will have to dig deeper than ever before if he is to survive the rocky road Wimbledon organisers paved for him in Thursday's draw.

Such is the depth in men's tennis that Federer could come a cropper in any round -- he could meet former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson in the third and the tallest man in tennis, the 2.08-metre Ivo Karlovic in the fourth.

But his first major test looms in the quarter-finals where he is seeded to meet the man whose Wimbledon title he took, Lleyton Hewitt.

Federer cites Hewitt, second seed Roddick and Britain's Tim Henman as his biggest threats. Fortunately, he believes he is in even better shape to handle them this year than when he blew away all-comers in 2003.

"I'm much more confident this year than last year and I'm definitely playing better," he said last week after strolling to a second consecutive Halle title without dropping a set.

"There's going to be a lot of pressure on me as defending champion, I know that," he added. "Also from myself. I really want to do well again this year."

Henman, who became the first Briton in 41 years to reach the French Open semi-finals last month, is looking to become the first home-grown men's singles champion in 68 years.

The fifth seed is tucked in the bottom half of the draw with U.S. Open champion Roddick and 2002 runner-up David Nalbandian, and would not meet Federer until the final.

CROWD SUPPORT"

That would not be a match Federer would relish, having lost six of their eight matches.

"Henman is really one of my biggest rivals and it's going to be tough if I have to play him," Federer said. "I would not like to play Henman in the final...He always has the crowd behind him and it's very difficult to play him on grass."

Federer, Hewitt and Goran Ivanisevic, also in the top quarter of the draw, are the only Wimbledon champions in the tournament and Hewitt, for one, feels that will be an advantage.

The Australian relinquished his crown in spectacular fashion in the first round last year to Karlovic, becoming the first men's champion to lose at the first hurdle.

He is determined to get a better foothold next week and allow his experience to count.

"I want to get a few wins under my belt," he said. "Once you get in the second week then the experience does start to count and there's not many in this draw who've won Wimbledon. I am feeling as good as the year I won here."

Ivanisevic, bowing out of tennis after the grasscourt grand slam, is also desperate to reach the second week.

"My goal is to pass first week. Then...who cares?" he said earlier this week. "It's going to be fun."

But Ivanisevic and Hewitt are drawn to meet in the third round, meaning one will be packing his bags before the halfway stage.

Lurking at the bottom of the draw is Roddick.

Like Federer, he defended a grasscourt title last week. Roddick's was at Queen's Club and he too knows the value of having the experience of a grand slam champion.

"I played really well at Wimbledon last year but maybe I didn't have the belief then that I do now, especially after having won one grand slam tournament," the U.S. Open champion said.

"I know I was playing really well last year but looking back it wasn't good enough to win. Before winning a slam, I had the fear of the unknown so winning one makes a big difference.

"You don't know how to do something until you have done it before. It helps a lot in the latter stages if you have been there before. The tough part now is getting to the latter stages."