Defending champion Spain, even without Rafael Nadal in its lineup, will be a tough test for semifinal newcomer Israel in the Davis Cup.
Both Nadal and Fernando Verdasco have pulled out of Spain's team for the best-of-five series that starts Friday on outdoor clay in Torre Pacheco because of injuries.
Top-ranked Roger Federer, however, is expected to be in action on each of the next three days as Switzerland plays Italy in the World Group playoffs.
With Nadal out, David Ferrer will face Harel Levy in Spain's opening match, and former top-ranked player Juan Carlos Ferrero will play Dudi Sela in Friday's other singles match.
Feliciano Lopez and Tommy Robredo are scheduled to lead Spain against Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram in Saturday's doubles, and the reverse singles are set for Sunday.
"It is evident that, playing at home as we are, we should be the favorites," Spain captain Albert Costa said. "But we shall have to be very alert and work to beat Israel, who are in the semifinals having defeated Russia and Sweden."
Ferrer is Spain's fourth highest ranked player at No. 20, behind Nadal, Verdasco and Robredo.
The other semifinal series, pitting Croatia against the Czech Republic in Porec on indoor clay, has three top 20 players in the lineup.
No. 15 Maric Cilic of Croatia will play in Friday's singles against No. 18 Tomas Berdych, after Radek Stepanek, the highest ranked Czech at No. 17, takes on big-serving Ivo Karlovic.
"It's not going to be easy, but we like to play big matches," said Cilic, who lost to the eventual champion Juan Martin del Potro in the U.S. Open quarterfinals. "I was a bit exhausted both mentally and psychically after that match, but now I'm relaxed and fresh."
Croatia, which won the Davis Cup title in 2005, has lost only once in its last 12 matches at home.
"It will be tough," Stepanek said. "But the winning streaks are there to be broken."
In Saturday's doubles, Lovro Zovko and Roko Karanusic will play Czech pair Lukas Dlouhy and Jan Hajek.
In the World Group playoffs, it's: Chile vs. Austria; Belgium vs. Ukraine; Brazil vs. Ecuador; Italy vs. Switzerland; Netherlands vs. France; South Africa vs. India; Serbia vs. Uzbekistan; and Sweden vs. Romania.
Britain, with third-ranked Andy Murray in the team, plays Poland in a zonal match in Liverpool. Like Federer, Murray is expected to play on three days of competition.
Federer, who lost to Del Potro in five sets in the U.S. Open final, said he was ready to get back on court to help his team reach next year's World Group.
"I've had to this before once after the Australian Open. I went to play Romania on clay and I was able to win all three points," Federer said of a 2004 World Group match. "I'm hoping I can do it again."
Federer will play Simone Bolelli in Friday's singles on outdoor clay in Genoa, then team with Stanislas Wawrinka to face Fabio Fognini and Potito Starace in Saturday's doubles. In reverse singles, Federer is scheduled to play Andreas Seppi.
Federer won his 14th major title at the French Open _ his first ever at Roland Garros _ and then followed that with a record No. 15 at Wimbledon. But he has yet to win the Davis Cup.
"It's definitely one of the goals," Federer said. "I always try, but there are a lot of good teams in the World Group now."
