Henman has not defeated Nalbandian, last year’s surprise finalist, in two previous meetings and will be looking to snap that losing run when the pair meet for a place in the quarter-finals on Centre Court.
“I’ve never beaten him and he’s very comfortable on these courts so I have to find a way to beat him,” said Henman following his 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 win over Swedish qualifier Robin Soderling.
Soderling was the third player from the qualifying draw to face the British number one and, like his two predecessors, he failed to pose much of a threat to Henman.
But Nalbandian, who toiled for more than four hours to overcome Slovakia’s Karol Kucera 6-4, 5-7, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 will provide Henman with a sterner test.
“I hope on Monday that he’s still a little bit sore,” Henman said with a wry smile.
“I know he’s comfortable on grass but I will discus with my coach the areas in which I can exploit him.”
Nalbandian, who did not get a chance to step out on Centre Court before last year’s final, is feeling confident about his first outing in the hallowed arena in 2003.
“I’ll be looking to do my job and that’s it,” said Nalbandian.
“We both won’t want to lose...so it’s going to be a close and tough match.”
Despite doubts about his form, Henman feels he is peaking at the right time and could be one of the main title contenders again.
French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, meanwhile, demonstrated he is more than just a claycourt specialist after beating Armenian Sargis Sargsian 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to reach the last 16.
Third seed Ferrero, who had never progressed beyond the third round in his previous two appearances at the grasscourt grand slam, overcame a spirited fightback from the 30-year-old who has a reputation for knocking out seeds at grand slams.
Sargsian, conqueror of 26th seed James Blake in the previous round, started confidently, serving out the first game to love and then immediately put pressure on the Spaniard’s serve which Ferrero only held after four deuces.
The 23-year-old Ferrero, playing only his eighth match at Wimbledon, quickly settled and after a series of long baseline rallies he broke Sargsian in the seventh game.
Sargsian tried to bring Ferrero to the net, but he quickly found himself a set down and then a break down in the second.
Ferrero recovered from 0-40 to salvage serve with four straight winners on his way to taking the second set and looked on course for a quick finish.
But Sargsian, looking for his first visit to the round of 16 at Wimbledon, fought back to take the third as Ferrero went off the boil.
The Spaniard, one of only two Grand Slam winners left in the men’s draw, regained the momentum, however, and wrapped up the match to set up a meeting with 13th-seeded Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean.
Saturday’s remaining results (prefix number denotes seeding):
Men’s singles:
Third round: 6-David Nalbandian (Argentina) beat Karol Kucera (Slovakia) 6-4, 5-7, 6-7 (1-7), 6-4, 6-2; 10-Tim Henman (Britain) beat Robin Soderling (Sweden) 6-3, 6-1, 6-4; 3-Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) beat Sargis Sargsian (Armenia) 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4; 13-Sebastien Grosjean (France) beat Wesley Moodie (South Africa) 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.—Reuters