Fitzgerald leaves for California on Sunday, and plans to speak with Philippoussis in person at the Indian Wells tournament to ascertain his availability for the clay-court tie in Florianopolis from 6-8 April. Philippoussis, who had surgery on his left knee in December, last represented his country in Zurich in February last year.

Preparing to announce a six or seven-player squad next week, Fitzgerald phoned Philippoussis in Memphis to congratulate him on his comeback title there nine days ago, but said the subject of Davis Cup in general and Brazil in particular had not been raised.

"It's really depending on how his knee feels," said Fitzgerald, aware that Philippoussis has also been suffering from flu and is resting at home in Florida this week.

"I want him to play, that's the bottom line. I'd love him to play, and I guess that the final decision is with Mark. I know that his knee is still a bit sore. We'll talk face to face in Indian Wells, and he'll tell me his decision."

Rob Aivatoglou, from management company Octagon, said Philippoussis had "always indicated it was going to be a tie-by-tie discussion. We'd like to think he'll play, hopefully he does, but the decision hasn't been made yet."

Fitzgerald, who, with coach Wally Masur, presided over a 4-1 first-round defeat of Ecuador in his debut tie last month, is likely to include such proven claycourt players as Richard Fromberg, Andrew Ilie and Jason Stoltenberg in an expanded squad that will assemble in Florianopolis as players are eliminated from the Ericsson Open in Florida the preceding week.

"To me it's a bit of a win-win situation because if they do well at Key Biscayne, they'll be hitting form at the right time, and if they don't then we'll go down as early as possible and just work hard on the clay," Fitzgerald said. "As far as playing in adverse conditions I think this will be as tough as anything, but I think it's a great challenge for us, a great challenge, and I think that's what it's all about. You sort of live for those challenges, and this will be a tough one, but I've got faith in our guys."

Fitzgerald returned on Monday from Dubai, where he worked closely with Australian No.2 Pat Rafter. Masur is in Scottsdale this week with Lleyton Hewitt, and it has escaped no one's attention that Brazilian spearhead Gustavo Kuerten is in ominous form, claiming successive claycourt titles in Buenos Aries and Acapulco over the past fortnight.

And South American crowds are notoriously unruly. Therein lies another challenge for the Australians.

"I think it's an issue, and you've got to deal with it, and that's part of being professional about your approach to the tie," Fitzgerald said. "We'll have a support group there obviously from Tennis Australia, but you've got to look at it as being a benefit, rather than a detriment. I think you've got to go there with an attitude that the atmosphere they create can benefit us, and you've just got to use it to your own advantage."