Andy Murray will need fans behind him when he faces Roger Federer for a place in Wimbledon final 2015

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Andy Murray's coach says Friday's match is between 'giants of the game'
Murray and Federer face off for a place in the 2015 Wimbledon final
The pair have a cordial truce but still get under each other's skin regularly
Jonas Bjorkman says Murray needs the support of the crowd on Friday
Wimbledon results: CLICK HERE for all the latest from day eleven

Published: 16:30 EST, 9 July 2015 | Updated: 07:33 EST, 10 July 2015

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Even the Swedes in tennis, usually as prone to over-excitement as an IKEA wardrobe, are getting excited about this one.

Andy Murray's coach Jonas Bjorkman hailed Friday's Wimbledon semi-final as a match between 'these giants of the game' while his opposite number in Roger Federer's corner, Stefan Edberg, was looking rather more intense than is normal.

Ex-world No 1 Mats Wilander declared: 'This is the most excited I have been for a match between the two of them ever in terms of their rivalry.

Andy Murray (left) speaks to his coaches Amelie Mauresmo (centre) and Jonas Bjorkman on Thursday

Bjorkman (left) believes British No 1 Murray can beat Roger Federer to reach the Wimbledon final

'Does Roger believe he can win a Grand Slam at this moment?

'I think it will go the distance. Both of them will figure out a way to prolong the match to the very end.'

Everything is set up beautifully for the Centre Court at teatime. Murray has looked in the form of his life while Federer has looked in the form of a previous life, that golden span between 2003-9 when he won six out of seven Wimbledons.

Maybe now, after 23 meetings, we will get the defining match between this pair. Every other combination of the fabled 'Big Four', that also includes Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, have had signature clashes that have exemplified their rivalries.

Think Federer-Nadal here in 2008 final, for example.

But it is a curiosity that Federer and Murray have never had a truly great contest. There have been memorable ones, obviously, like the 2012 final or the Olympic gold medal match, but never an occasion that has soared above all others.

Murray and Federer to face each other Wimbledon semi finals

Murray (right) and Federer have a mutual respect but still regularly get under each other's skin

Murray admitted his defeat by Federer at the ATP Tour finals in November - 6-0, 6-1 - was embarrassing

It often seems that one of them plays below their best. At London 2012 Murray crushed Federer, while in the Wimbledon final that year the Swiss pulled ahead once the roof closed.

The 28-year-old Scot has conceded that the last time they played, at the Barclays ATP World Finals, the 6-0, 6-1 scoreline was 'embarrassing'.

Perhaps it is connected to their contrast of styles, to the point where the great Swiss used to get infuriated by what he saw as the Scot's overly defensive tactics.

There is a cordial truce between them now but they have had a habit of getting under each other's skin over the years.

This time the stakes are very different to when they met in the final three years ago, and the prize of the world No 2 position is the least of it. For Murray it would be a huge step towards what could be a third Grand Slam title, while for Federer it is a question of trying to get close to what could be his last.

Murray practises his serving on Court 15 on Thursday as he prepares to face Federer for a place in the final

The British No 1 was mobbed by fans wanting his autograph as he left the practice courts in SW19

The Wimbledon crowd, which on Thursday included David Beckham (centre) need to help Murray to victory

His supreme comfort on grass makes this major the most attainable these days, and although he has looked incredibly sprightly of late he will be nearly 35 on his next visit here.

Lying in wait in the final will most likely be Novak Djokovic, who is strongly favoured to beat the interloper, Richard Gasquet, before the expected main event kicks off later in the afternoon.

So an extremely difficult three days lie ahead for the winner, and if it is to be Murray he will need the vocal support of the crowd behind him, which is far from certain when the opponent is the global icon Federer.

Federer beat Gilles Simon in straight sets in his quarter-final match on Wednesday to progress to the last four

World No 2 Federer (left) shakes hands with his French opponent at the net after beating him 6-3, 7-5, 6-2

This has been most notable in Murray's four defeats to the Swiss at the O2 Arena, where it is a more international crowd than at Wimbledon, a place the Scot normally seems more at ease.

Those from the overnight queue who sit down by the court will need to play their part.

'I think they should be fair but hopefully with a little bit of an edge,' said Bjorkman on Thursday.

'So a bit of edge supporting Andy, that would be great. He is playing at home and even if he plays Roger, who will have some support because of the way he is, they would hopefully have the most support for Andy.'

Bjorkman, who faced Federer in the semis nine years ago, was holding a strategy meeting on Thursday afternoon with the brains trust of Murray and Amelie Mauresmo. He reported a relaxed mood in the camp and no shoulder issues.

Bjorkman (right) has asked for fans on Centre Court to support Murray during Friday's semi-final match

The winner of Federer-Murray will play either Novak Djokovic (centre) or Richard Gasquet in the final

Gasquet overcame Stan Wawrinka in a thrilling five-set encounter on Wednesday to book his semi-final place

It is fairly obvious that Federer will come forward and attack the net when he can while Murray must choose how assertive he wants to be.

There is no doubt that the Scot has had the tougher tests this tournament, particularly his nightmarish fourth round against Ivo Karlovic.

A key battleground will be how Murray can pass and lob his surging opponent, the latter manoeuvre having been an eye-catching part of his progress thus far.

One concern for those hoping for a Murray triumph on Sunday is that, since returning from back surgery at the beginning of last year, he has not beaten either Federer or Djokovic.

His one win in 15 matches against his three most celebrated rivals came over Nadal — how he would love to double that on Friday.