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Leon Smith weighing up Davis Cup final selection options

Great Britain captain Leon Smith looks at the pre-draw press conference at the Davis Cup final in Ghent
Image: Great Britain captain Leon Smith is deciding whether James Ward or Kyle Edmund should play in the singles

Leon Smith is yet to decide who will feature as Great Britain's second singles player in this weekend's Davis Cup final against Belgium.

He had hoped to make an early decision but has delayed finalising his plans after the delay in arriving in Ghent.

Security fears in nearby Brussels - where the terror alert level is at its highest following the recent attacks in Paris - meant the Brits travelled to the final venue 24 hours later than planned.

Smith does not have to submit his four-man team until an hour before the draw on Thursday and for now, both James Ward and Kyle Edmund are in the running to play.

The British captain said: "We wanted to get here and actually get a feel for the venue, a feel for the courts.

"That's why I didn't speak to the guys directly about it just yet. I'm going to wait and see over the next day or two."

Smith has a real dilemma as he mulls over whether to use Ward or Edmund behind the talismanic Andy Murray.

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Kyle Edmund (l) and James Ward at the Davis Cup semi-final between Great Britain and Australia
Image: Edmund (left) and Ward are the two players in contention to play in the singles against Belgium

Ward was instrumental in helping Britain through their quarter-final with the USA in Glasgow and they may not have progressed had he not beaten John Isner.

By the same token, his form otherwise has been mixed and Edmund won a Challenger title on clay - the surface being used in Ghent - just over a week ago in Buenos Aries with Smith looking on.

Tellingly, it is Yorkshireman Edmund who has been Murray's practice partner in Belgium - but no debutant has ever won a live rubber in the final's 115-year history.

Edmund said: "You want to play, especially for your country. You want to do your best. Whoever plays is going to give their best.

Kyle Edmund of Great Britain plays a backhand during a practice session at Emirates Arena
Image: Edmund has been Andy Murray's practice partner after winning a Challenger event in Argentina

"They're going to prepare the same way they've done every other time. It doesn't change. It's a tennis match you'll prepare for. You just deal with it when it comes to it."

Ward added: "Obviously everyone wants to play in such a big competition but it's been a big team effort for years. It's not just about this year, it's been about the last four, five years.

"Many different players, even guys that aren't here this week, have played a big part in that. We'll all work together as a team and fight for the best result for all of us."

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