Hewitt steps into enemy territory

Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt steps deep into enemy territory when he leads Australia into their potentially explosive Davis Cup semi-final away to Argentina this weekend.

Hewitt, with a string of angry confrontations with Argentine players behind him, is an unpopular figure in the South American country and has two minders following his every move before and during this weekend's tie.

Australia will be attempting to avenge last year's 4-1 quarter-final home defeat against the same opponents, which has added further spice to the confrontation.

But Argentina, who will be backed by a fanatical 14,000 crowd at the Parque Roca arena and playing on their favoured clay surface, start as overwhelming favourites to reach their first final since 1981.

David Nalbandian, one of the Argentine players who has clashed with Hewitt in the past, has fuelled the rivalry by predicting a straightforward win.

"It's going to be easy, 4-1," he said. "It's going to be even nicer that he (Hewitt) is playing, it will be a better spectacle, but the Australians have the same chances as before."

Nalbandian denied that Australia would get a rough reception, however. "Everyone knows about the Davis Cup and when we play away they make our lives impossible," he said.

"There is noise everywhere, insults and you have to put up with it. People here are much more respectful than abroad."

Juan Ignacio Chela and Nalbandian have both been named in an Argentine team which is unchanged from the one which beat holders Croatia in their quarter-final in Zagreb.

Argentina, who have reached the semi-finals for the fourth time in five years since returning to the World Group in 2002, have not lost a home tie for eight years.

Jose Acasuso and Agustin Calleri complete the line-up.

Hewitt will be joined by Mark Philippoussis, who returns to the Australian team for the first time in two-and-a-half years, and doubles specialists Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley. Philippoussis and Hewitt have helped Australia win the trophy twice, in 1999 and 2003.

The winners of the Buenos Aires semi-final will meet either the US or Russia in the final in December.

Russia will start favourites to beat their former Cold War adversaries.

Nikolay Davydenko and Mikhail Youzhny, fresh from reaching the US Open semi-finals earlier this month, head a powerful Russian side seeking revenge for defeats in 1995 and 1998.

The 1995 defeat was particularly painful for Russia, coming in the final played on red clay in Moscow's Olympic Complex when Pete Sampras won all three of his matches.

Sampras is long retired but in Andy Roddick, runner-up at the US Open to Roger Federer after beating Youzhny, the visitors have a formidable competitor capable of inflicting more heartache on the Russians.

Former world number one Marat Safin, who along with California resident Dmitry Tursunov completes the Russia team, is confident his country can reach their first final since winning their maiden Davis Cup title in 2002.

"We have a really strong team," said Safin, who also reached the fourth round at Flushing Meadows. "With the team we have right now we should be pretty confident that we can beat any team out there."

As well as a rejuvenated Roddick and US Open quarter-finalist James Blake, the US also boast the world's best doubles duo in twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan.