After suffering two of his most crushing defeats of last year to Bublik, the six-foot-six giant stands in de Minaur's way of a second straight Open quarter-final showing on Sunday.
De Minaur was cruising with a two-sets-to-love lead over Bublik at last year's French Open before capitulating, then also blowing a lead to his menacing nemesis in a real-life Halloween nightmare, also in Paris.
The demoralising losses prompted de Minaur to "look in the mirror" and the world No.6 has duly rebounded to re-emerge as a mental and physical warrior in the months leading to this.
After becoming the first Australian since Lleyton Hewitt in 2005 to make the semi-finals of the season-ending championship, it is clear de Minaur is a different beast than the broken man who complained of being in a "dark place" following a series of collapses on other big stages in 2025.
The 26-year-old has climbed to a career-high No.6 in the world and has repeatedly said he now refuses to be bullied around on court.
"I have been always one to let my tennis do the talking, and I have always found it quite tough to have that confidence if the results aren't there," he said after seeing off 29th seed Frances Tiafoe in straight sets in the third round on Friday night.
That was de Minaur's highest-ranked Open scalp yet in nine Melbourne Park campaigns.
"I know some players have the ability to not be affected by results but, for me, in terms of confidence, it was quite hard for me to really believe in myself unless I got those results.
"As the years have gone on, I have had those results. I mean, last year I had, I don't know the exact stat, but I had a lot of wins on hard court and I was a force to be reckoned with throughout the year.
"Obviously if I want to take the next step, I've got to believe that I can do it."
A six-time grand slam quarter-finalist, without ever reaching the last four at a major, de Minaur does acknowledge in facing the 10th-ranked Bublik and most likely world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, that he will need to raise his game further to make the breakthrough this AO.
"I'm glad with where my level is at. Ultimately, I knew going in if I was going to go deep, that I was going to have to play great tennis," he said.
"I had some very tough opponents in front of me and I'm up for the challenge, and I'm excited for it.
"I'm sure it's going to be even tougher and I'm excited for, yet again, another battle, and hopefully I can step up to the occasion.
"I feel not satisfied, but I feel like I've achieved but in a position where I want more, and I'm going to be pushing for that.
"Hopefully I get better and better as the tournament goes on, and I can give myself the opportunity to play the matches that I want to be playing here at the Australian Open.
"I want it so bad."
Should he turn the tables on Bublik, de Mianur will play either Alcaraz or world No.20 Tommy Paul on Tuesday in the quarter-finals.
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