New Zealand will start overwhelming favourites to win this week's Davis Cup tie against Kuwait, but non-playing captain Bruce Derlin wants the job done in style.
A win in the Asia-Oceania group two semifinal starting at North Harbour on Friday will set New Zealand up to play Korea - assuming they clean up lightweights Pacific Oceania this weekend - for a place in group one next year.
All the numbers are in New Zealand's favour. Their squad collectively are in good form, notably No 1 Mark Nielsen. He made semifinals in each of the last four weeks on the Futures circuit in Japan, and had a win and quarter-final appearance in the two before that.
Nielsen is at No 414 in the world. By comparison, Kuwait's best player, the tall, solid-serving Mohammad al-Ghareeb, is No 634.
Their likely No 2, Abdullah Magdas, an 18-year-old, is in the 1400s.
"I want us to not only win, but win well," Derlin said last night. "The key for me is that guys are playing well doing it. If going to a fifth set is what it takes, that's fine.
"But on paper we are favourites and we want to win well to set us up for the next tie."
North Harbour's Nielsen is clearly the No 1 singles selection, but choosing No 2 might give Derlin pause for thought.
He has a player "pretty much in my mind" for the position. His options are GD Jones, Dan King-Turner and Adam Thompson, with Jones the likely frontrunner.
But Derlin conceded his mind could be changed by what he sees in practice.
"It's open, and that's a good thing because there's more competition for the No 2 spot. We've got several who could fill No 2 and eventually No 1."
Both teams will train at the tie venue today and tomorrow. The draw will be on Thursday morning at the North Shore City Council chambers, with the first-day singles on Friday, the doubles Saturday and the reverse singles on Sunday.
Tennis: Derlin calls for stylish cup win
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