The cricketing great, regarded as one of the top fast bowlers in history, was confirmed last night to be attending the funeral in Hughes' NSW east coast hometown of Macksville.
Hughes died on Thursday after being struck by a bouncer during a first-class match at the Sydney Cricket Ground two days earlier.
The young batsman's death has prompted an outpouring of grief from around the world. Thousands are expected at his funeral, with big screens planned to cater for overflow.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott paid tribute to Hughes -- who would have been 26 last Sunday -- in Parliament yesterday.
"His death has so affected people because it happened in the midst of life at its most exuberant -- he was 63 not out, on his way to a century and a return to the test team.
"Above all we honour a young man who has left us too soon, but who filled every moment of his 26 years with 60 seconds worth of distance run," Mr Abbott said.
X-Men actor Hugh Jackman posted a photo on instagram of a lone bat propped up on the Broadway stage where that day's performance of The River was to take place. "Just before curtain on Broadway ... Paying tribute to Phillip Hughes," he wrote.
