A flurry of bumper last-16 clashes kicks off week two of the Australian Open with Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka among the top stars bidding to secure quarter-final berths on Sunday.

After brutal heat disrupted play on Saturday, temperatures are set to ease from 40 degrees Celsius to a more manageable 23 degrees at Melbourne Park as the business end of the tournament gets started.

Belarusian top seed Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, opens the day on Rod Laver Arena in a mouth-watering clash with fearless rising star Victoria Mboko.

Sabalenka was given a thorough examination by Anastasia Potapova in her last match, taken to two tie-breaks while admitting she was "emotionally all over the place".

"I have to go out there, I have to bring my best tennis and fight for every point. That's my approach," she said of facing Mboko.

Six-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz follows Sabalenka on to centre court to take on American journeyman Tommy Paul after warning he was getting "better and better".

Should he get past Paul, either sixth-seeded home hope Alex De Minaur or Kazkahstan's 10th seed Alexander Bublik will be waiting for him.

They headline the night session on Rod Laver Arena. (AFP)