Murray on course for Djokovic clash

Andy Murray will probably have to beat Novak Djokovic if he is going to reach the final of the first Masters event of the season in Indian Wells.

The British number one and third seed is looking to win the BNP Paribas Open tournament in California which will place him in the world's top two for the first time since 2009.

However, Murray will face a tricky route to the final as he will go up against either Evgeny Donskoy or Tatsuma Ito in the first round, which starts on Thursday, before the likes of Martin Klizan and Kei Nishikori await and a potential quarter-final meeting with Juan Martin Del Potro.

If the Scot progresses to the semi-finals, the chances are he will go up against Djokovic after being paired in the same half of the draw.

Murray will no doubt see it as an opportunity to exact revenge on the Serb following his four sets defeat in the Australian Open final in January.

Second seed and reigning champion Roger Federer is in the opposite half of the draw and could be set for a mouth-watering quarter-final showdown against the fit-again Rafael Nadal, who is seeded fifth and will be playing in his first hardcourt tournament for almost a year.

If Federer and Nadal do battle, then the winner could face David Ferrer in the last-four, although Tomas Berdych will no doubt have something to say about that having been placed in the Spaniard's side of the draw.

Murray is 4.50 to win in Indian Wells, which would take him to number two in the world rankings, while Federer is 6.50 to retain his tile, Djokovic is 2.10 and Nadal can be backed at 10.00.