Novak Djokovic will face Andy Murray in the final of the Australian Open for the third time in five years after edging another five-set encounter with defending champion Stan Wawrinka.

Four-time winner Djokovic had not dropped a set on his way to the semi-finals but was made to dig deep to win 7-6 (7/1) 3-6 6-4 4-6 6-0 in exactly three and a half hours on Rod Laver Arena.

It was the third year running Djokovic and Wawrinka had gone the distance in Melbourne, although Friday's contest lacked the quality and drama of their two previous encounters.

Djokovic beat Wawrinka 12-10 in the fifth set in the fourth round before claiming his third straight title in 2013, but Wawrinka ended the world number one's 25-match unbeaten run in the quarter-finals last year, winning 9-7 in the fifth.

"As it was the last two years we played five sets, I was ready for the battle," Djokovic said in an on-court interview. "It was a great battle, we pushed each other to the limit and credit to Stan for playing well.

"I think I played well up to 2-1 and a break up and then I played a couple of loose games, I allowed him to come back into the match and Stan is a quality player. He knows how to use his opportunities. I made my life very complicated.

"The opening game in the fifth set was very close and making the break was a crucial turning point. My game depends on how well I move and I was too defensive in the second and fourth set and Stan stepped it up after that. In the fifth set I managed to stay consistent and serve well when I needed to and am so glad to go through."