The team, captained by Thanakorn Srichaphan, will face a very solid German team comprising of world No 14 Tommy Haas, No 53 Florian Mayer, No 62 Philipp Kohlschreiber and Alexander Waske.

"We have a big disadvantage going into the tie because the hosts welcome us on a clay surface. We have high hopes in doubles, which could win a point for us on Saturday," said the Thai skipper.

"Our players are underdogs, especially on clay, which we have had difficulties playing on," added the eldest brother of Paradorn Srichaphan.

Only doubles specialists Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana are accompanying the team today as Thai singles players Paradorn and Danai Udomchoke are still involved in the Beijing Open in China. The top two players will follow the team on Monday.

The winning team will earn a spot in the World Group next year, with the loser relegated to the qualifying zone group.

This will be the Thai squad's fourth attempt in the elite group play-off stage after their first against England in 2002. Yet the country has never won a play-off tie.

Meanwhile, three Grand Slam winners will be in action in the US$200,000 PTT Bangkok Open at the Rama Gardens Hotel from October 7-15.

China's Zheng Jie and Yan Zi, who won the Australian Open doubles title in January, along with Frenchwoman Natalie Dechy, who teamed up with Vera Zvonereva to win the doubles title at the US Open, will be playing in this year's tournament.

The Chinese pair have had a tremendous year so far - as well as their two Grand Slam titles they have won a further four other tour events in Berlin, Rabat, Hertogenbosch and New Haven.

Their form has moved them to No 3 and No 4 in the doubles rankings. Zheng Jie will feel confident of winning both the singles and doubles titles as she has already two singles titles under her belt this year at Estoril and Stockholm.

The qualifying rounds of the PTT Bangkok Open take place from October 7-9, with the main draw running from October 9-15.

For more information and ticket enquiries, please call Pentangle Promotions on 02-3823491-3.

Italy 1-0 up in final nFrancesca Schiavone gave Italy a 1-0 lead in the Fed Cup final against Belgium yesterday by defeating Kirsten Flipkens 6-1 6-3.

The 20-year-old Flipkens was named to replace former world No 1 Kim Clijsters who was unavailable due to a wrist injury picked up in the build-up to the US Open.

Lerpong Amsa-Ngiam

The Nation