By TERRY MADDAFORD
New Zealand's paucity of top-line tennis talent gave non-playing captain Glen Wilson few options when he named his Davis Cup team for next month's away tie against South Korea.
Predictably, Mark Nielsen, James Greenhalgh and Alistair Hunt have held their place, and will be joined for the February 9-11 tie by debutante 18-year-old Aucklander Lee Radovanovich.
Win or lose, New Zealand will then play Uzbekistan or Indonesia in Invercargill in April.
Last year, James Shortall joined the "big three" for the clash with Thailand in Timaru, but was replaced by Mark Thompson for the later tie in Uzbekistan.
Both are unavailable this time because of university commitments in the United States.
With Nielsen the only New Zealander involved in next week's Australian Open, the other players will turn out in local tournaments before heading to Seoul.
Wilson will later name up to five players for the Invercargill tie.
"Robbie Cheyne or Danny Willman could make that team," Wilson said yesterday.
"I expect all players to compete in the Futures tournaments in Ashburton, Christchurch and Tauranga, and the Hamilton Challenger, before the team is named."
With two players ranked inside the world's top 150, South Korea will be a formidable opponent as New Zealand begin their bid to return to the world group.
Tennis: Davis Cup selector short on options
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