By TERRY MADDAFORD
Paula Marama and Marina Erakovic are poised for Fed Cup debuts when New Zealand play in the Asia/Oceania Zone tournament in Delhi in April.
Non-playing captain Pavlina Nola sprang a surprise or two in naming the team yesterday.
Nola, who replaced Mark Lewis as team captain after last year's cup in Tokyo, has introduced Marama and Erakovic as replacements for Leanne Baker and Ilke Gers for the April 19-26 tournament.
Of the team who played in Japan last year - they beat China Hong Kong 3-0 but lost by that margin to Japan, Korea and China - Shelley Stephens and Eden Marama have been retained.
"I want to build a team who can play for some years and start helping the girls in the way to play professionally," said Nola who had a career-high ranking of 68 in her years on the WTA Tour.
"We need to look at the future.
While Baker and Gers have been replaced, they remain part of an extended team who will continue to practise under Nola.
"At this point they won't be going to India but anything [like injuries] can happen before we go," said Nola.
Nola has her sights set firmly on reaching the quarterfinals at the tournament.
Many of the competing nations have players ranked inside the world's top 150. Stephens, at 368, is the highest-ranked New Zealander.
Tennis: Marama, Erakovic picked as surprise Fed Cup debuts
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