The pressure is on Great Britain captain Jeremy Bates to deliver a victory in Israel and at least give a glimmer of hope that promotion to the Davis Cup World Group is possible later this year.
But it has not been the ideal build-up as GB get ready for life without Tim Henman.
Bates sprang a surprise by calling up the unheralded David Sherwood for his doubles expertise.
Injury scares to Arvind Parmar, Andrew Murray and Alex Bogdanovic then complicated matters with regard to the second singles berth alongside Greg Rusedski.
Parmar finally succumbed to a knee injury on Tuesday, moving Bogdanovic in line for a role that, as British number three, he might have felt entitled to anyway.
Rusedski is the team's lynchpin and, with Israel able to call upon a world-class doubles team, Britain are likely to need a point from their second singles player, Bogdanovic.
GREG RUSEDSKI
After spending much of his career in the shadow of Tim Henman, Rusedski is reportedly relishing the chance to lead a young British team.
There had been considerable speculation that he would follow Henman into Davis Cup retirement - given his injury problems it would have been understandable.
However, Bates is delighted to have the former US Open finalist on side and will be expecting two points from his star man.
Rusedski battled his way back into the world's top 50 last year and on a hard court should have too much class for the Israelis.
But defeat in the tie could see the British number two call it quits as he is unlikely to relish another year outside the World Group.
ALEX BOGDANOVIC
Bogdanovic is back in favour with the LTA after the governing body temporarily withdrew his funding last year.
The 20-year-old has made good progress and has overtaken Parmar as the British number three behind Henman and Rusedski.
Last year, he won his first Challenger level tournament and successfully qualified for the US Open.
And earlier in February, he made a timely reminder to Bates of his potential by reaching the semi-finals of a Challenger in Belgrade - the city where he was born.
Bogdanovic made his Davis Cup debut in 2003 against Australia, and won a dead rubber against Todd Woodbridge to prevent a 5-0 whitewash.
ANDREW MURRAY
The 17-year-old US Open junior champion, who won four Futures titles last year, is still yet to play a match in an ATP tournament.
However, both Rusedski and Henman were adamant Murray should be selected ahead of more experienced candidates.
The Scot received his first call-up in September for Britain's World Group qualifier against Austria, but did not play in the 3-2 defeat.
He has struggled to get going this season because of a back injury but is fit enough to be called upon for the doubles alongside Sherwood.
DAVID SHERWOOD
Sherwood will play after Bates decided on using the doubles specialist for Saturday's third rubber.
The 24-year-old is Britain's fifth-ranked doubles player, but playing alongside various partners impressed in the two-man game last season.
He won three Futures titles, one with Marray and the other two with Daniel Kiernan.
And at the higher Challenger level, he and Kiernan have reached two semi-finals.