Lleyton Hewitt has backed his Australian team to come through the Davis Cup 'group of death' despite the absence of their top gun.
Beaten finalists the last two years, Hewitt's men have been handed a challenging group in Valencia this week with France, hosts Spain and Czech Republic in their quartet. The top two qualify for the November knock-out stage.
They go into battle without their No.1, Alex de Minaur, who reluctantly pulled out on Monday due to the lingering effects of the hip injury he suffered at Wimbledon, and which ultimately crippled his US Open bid at the same last-eight stage.
