Argentina eye first Davis Cup win

Argentina will go into the Davis Cup final as favourites to win the trophy for the first time in the absence of Rafael Nadal for Spain.

The world number one's season ended with a knee injury two weeks ago.

Juan Martin del Potro, David Nalbandian, Jose Acasuso and Agustin Calleri line up for hosts Argentina.

David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco, Feliciano Lopez and Marcel Granollers will represent Spain when the tie gets under way in Mar del Plata on Friday.

"This is such a dream for all of us that it's possible that the anxiety, stress and nerves play against you," said Del Potro, the highest-ranked player on show at nine in the world.

"I would like to keep myself on the sidelines of what all this means because it's such a passionate experience."

The best-of-five tie opens with two singles matches on Friday before the doubles match on Saturday and the reverse singles on Sunday.

Nalbandian is expected to play Ferrer on Friday, but Argentina captain Alberto Mancini said he has no preference for who Del Potro faces - Lopez or Verdasco.

"The good thing is they're both left-handed," said Mancini.

The tie is being played on a fast indoor court, originally chosen to try and neutralise the threat of Nadal.

"It's a fairly fast court for within the circuit," said Mancini. "It took us a little time to find the velocity we wanted and when we got to the point where the boys felt comfortable I said: 'That's it. We're not changing anything.'"

Argentina will try and win the Davis Cup for the first time, having finished runners-up away to the United States in 1981 and Russia in 2006.

Spain won the Davis Cup in 2000 and 2004, but lost three times as visitors in 1965, 1967 and 2003 - each time against Australia