Croatia will be relying heavily on Ivan Ljubicic

Ancic has a shoulder injury while big-serving Karlovic has not played for his country since 2005 because of a dispute with his federation.

Ivan Ljubicic leads the squad, which also includes Marin Cilic, Roko Karanusic and Lovro Zovko.

Teams can change two players before the tie, which begins on 21 September.

The absence of Ancic and Karlovic will boost Britain's hopes of qualifying for the World Group, which features the top 16 countries.

606: DEBATE Can Great Britain beat Croatia?

Ljubicic, currently ranked 12th, is a former world number three, but he has never got past the third round at Wimbledon and has gone out in the first round on four occasions.

Cilic, 19, is a rising star, ranked 119th in the world. He beat British number two Tim Henman in the first round at Queen's this year on his way to the quarter-finals.

The tie, to be played on Wimbledon's Court One, will be Henman's last competitive appearance before he retires.