GREAT BRITAIN Davis Cup titles: 9 Captain: Jeremy Bates Played since: 1900 Ties played: 218 Won/lost: W 134 L 84

Life without Tim Henman began in fine style for Great Britain when Greg Rusedski led the team to a stirring victory over Israel in Tel Aviv.

Switzerland present an altogether tougher test, with world number one Roger Federer returning to their team after taking a break in March.

However, the prize of a place in the World Group next year could not be sweeter.

Captain Jeremy Bates once again relies on the experience of Rusedski allied to the youthful potential of Andy Murray.

GREG RUSEDSKI Age: 32 World ranking: 29 Davis Cup record: W 27 L 10

Rusedski clearly revelled in his role as elder statesman in the otherwise inexperienced team which beat Israel earlier this year.

The former world number four won both his singles matches to ease the pressure on his young team-mates.

Since then, the 32-year-old has enjoyed a renaissance on the ATP Tour, winning his 15th career title in Newport and reaching the semi-finals of the Montreal Masters.

However, all that came on hard courts and he must tackle Federer, who he last beat in 1999, on his least favourite surface, clay.

ANDY MURRAY Age: 18 World ranking: 110 Davis Cup record: W 1 L 0

When Murray made his Davis Cup debut against Israel, he was yet to play a single match on the ATP Tour but since partnering David Sherwood to an unexpected doubles win, the teenage Scot has made giant strides.

From a world ranking outside the top 400 in March, Murray is now on the verge of breaking into the top 100 after a run of form which began with a headline-grabbing third-round appearance on his Wimbledon debut.

Two Challenger level titles followed before he became the youngest Briton ever to qualify for the US Open, where he beat Andrei Pavel in five sets before going the distance again in an epic defeat to Arnaud Clement.

Unlike Rusedski, British number three Murray relishes playing on clay and the feisty teenager will no doubt enjoy the opportunity of challenging himself against world number one Federer for the first time - if he gets the chance.

DAVID SHERWOOD Age: 25 World ranking: 233 Davis Cup record: W 1 L 0

Sherwood was virtually unknown when he was picked to face Israel but it proved to be a masterstroke by Bates.

The 25-year-old partnered Murray to doubles glory and could be called upon again in Switzerland, where he will be hoping for revenge against Federer.

The pair met in the junior Wimbledon quarter-finals in 1998, with Federer winning 7-6 6-2 before going on to take the title.

Sherwood was expelled by the Lawn Tennis Association at the start of 2004 for a lack of commitment, but since capping his return to favour with a Davis Cup call-up, the Yorkshireman has reached a career-high ranking of 214.

ALAN MACKIN Age: 24 World ranking: 262 Davis Cup record: W 0 L 1

Mackin's presence alongside Murray means half Britain's squad has been provided by Scotland.

The Paisley-born right-hander is an out-and-out clay-courter who has been called up for the first time since the 2003 first-round defeat to Australia.

He got his chance two years ago when Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski pulled out injured but suffered a singles defeat to Mark Philippoussis.

Mackin has been trying his luck on the ATP Tour this season, but is yet to post his first win.