"Jose has coached many of the game's great players including former world number one Jim Courier and Michael Chang.

"We are going to spend the week together to see if we could make a good team."

Federer, who has won 11 of his 15 matches on tour in 2008 heading into the European clay court season, insisted he was over his illness and raring to go as he bids to end his longest run without a title win in eight years.

He added: "I am feeling great, eager and ready for the next several months of tennis in Europe."

Calzaghe v Hopkins - this Saturday night exclusively live on Setanta Sports 1. Subscribe for just £5 per month here quoting 1904.