Great Britain captain John Lloyd admits his side are huge underdogs in their world group match in Argentina, starting on Friday.
Skipper acknowledges size of task in Argentina
Great Britain captain John Lloyd admits his side are huge underdogs in their world group match in Argentina, starting on Friday.
Lloyd is without his number one player Andy Murray due to a knee injury, leaving an inexperienced line-up for the visit to Buenos Aires.
Murray's brother Jamie - a doubles specialist - is joined by Alex Bogdanovic, Jamie Baker and Ross Hutchins in the Great Britain team.
World number 188 Bogdanovic is the highest ranked of the four players.
"Beating Argentina is going to be the toughest challenge of my career and the players' career," Lloyd told
PA Sport.
"It is a learning experience for us. We couldn't have had a tougher draw, but in the world group you have to accept that it is difficult when you don't have the number one player in your team and you don't have so many good players as Argentina.
"Obviously there is a big difference with not having Andy Murray as he brings a lot of experience to our team, so now it's difficult. There's no question.
"However, I have played Davis Cup for 14 or 15 years, played a lot of matches in a lot of countries where it was very tough and we try to tell the players that this is an occasion that if you win, it will be unbelievable and if you lose, it will be unbelievable too.
"It's an experience they may never have in their career again.
"You play against one of the best teams in the world with a very passionate crowd.
"This is what the Davis Cup is all about. You either enjoy it or you are scared of it. We'll have to make sure that our players enjoy the occasion and go out there and have fun. Even if they lose."
No weakness
Argentina coach Alberto Mancini is aiming for his team - led by world number nine David Nalbandian - to get the tie won 'as soon as possible'.
But Lloyd believes Great Britain have a good chance of winning the doubles and keeping the best-of-five-match contest alive heading into Sunday's reverse singles.
"On paper, it is the best chance to win one of the first three matches," he said.
"Obviously Argentina are heavy, heavy favourites but we'll do our best. You never know what is going to happen.
"We look for weaknesses in the Argentinian team and there are no weaknesses.
"We don't have those riches and it's difficult. On paper our chance is in the doubles."
