Bookmakers' favourite Andy Roddick, 20, having survived the powerful serve and acid tongue of Britain's Greg Rusedski in the second round, meets 21-year-old Spaniard Tommy Rebredo.
Roddick is on a roll having won the prestigious Stella Artois grasscourt tournament at Queen's earlier this m
onth.
He is fifth seed but his odds are shorter than world number one Andre Agassi's. Agassi plays his third-round match on Saturday.
Robredo, a claycourt specialist in the true Spanish mould and seeded 25 here, could have a rough ride on Centre Court.
Roger Federer, 21, is also a champion in waiting.
The Swiss fourth seed has yet to live up to his promise in Grand Slams having got as far as quarter-finals, but he won the pre-Wimbledon grasscourt tournament at Halle earlier this month and looks in fine form.
Federer meets American Mardy Fish.
Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal is the youngest men's player in the third round since Boris Becker in 1984. The 17-year-old takes on Thailand's 12th seed Paradorn Srichaphan, who has survived two five-set matches in his scramble towards the weekend.
Becker was 16 in 1984 and went on to win the title the following year. He remains the youngest men's singles champion.
The women's line-up on Friday is rather more experienced. Twice former champion Venus Williams takes on Russia's Nadia Petrova and 1999 winner Lindsay Davenport faces Cara Black of Zimbabwe.
