The Frenchman had trailed main rival Hirvonen after the first full day of competition following an error he made at the opening turn of the second stage, but he hit back in superb style to win all of Saturday's six stages and open up a 26.8-second lead over the Finn.

CNN: Unstoppable Loeb makes it four from four

The last time the 29-year-old, eyeing a fifth title in Melbourne, failed to reach the quarter-finals in a Grand Slam was at the 2004 French Open, and all went to plan with a comfortable first set, starting in blistering style with three aces.

BBC: Roger Federer & Novak Djokovic progress at Aussie Open

All three matches were played in wet and wild conditions which hindered the free-running, open style they play, but Claassens insists that cannot be used as an excuse as they aim for a win that would see them leapfrog fourth-placed Sarries.

BBC: Michael Claassens calls on Bath to kick-start campaign