Spain are expected to send a below full-strength team to face New Zealand in their Davis Cup tennis rubber at Hamilton later this month.
World No 8 Alex Corretja, 10th-ranked Carlos Moya - who pulled out of this week's US Open through injury - and Albert Costa (21st) are not expected
to travel to New Zealand for the tie on the fast indoor courts of Mystery Creek between September 24-26.
They will probably compete at home in an ATP tournament at Mallorca. However, Spain still have a team made up of three players ranked in the world's top 100. New Zealand has no one in the top 100.
Spanish Davis Cup officials have entrusted Felix Mantilla (17th), Francisco Clavet (26), Fernando Vicente (41) and Julian Alonso to face the New Zealanders.
Alonso was once among the top 30 players but has slipped outside the top 100.
New Zealand Tennis general manager Pat O'Rourke said they had not been officially notified of the Spanish squad but were aware of reports from Europe claiming Moya, Corretja and Costa were unavailable.
"It's good from our point of view if they're not coming," O'Rourke said.
Spain had the luxury of selecting from six players in the top 50 and the absence of three of the bigger names was not likely to diminish spectator appeal.
New Zealand captain Jeff Simpson said Spain underestimated New Zealand at their peril but "they obviously feel the other guys can do the job."
He said the Spaniards' decision would be a combination of undervaluing the Davis Cup competition and not wanting to fly all the way to New Zealand to face a team they don't rate highly.
Mantilla has previous experience of New Zealand conditions, making the semifinals of the Heineken Open in Auckland last year.
He also beat New Zealand No 1 Brett Steven at last year's US Open.
"Our next best is Mark Nielsen and he's 250 in the world so they're obviously confident they can beat us," Simpson said.
However, he hoped Spain, who prefer to play on clay, would struggle on the faster, hard court surface at Mystery Creek.
"We have to go into it with hope and we've got to prepare the guys the best we can.
"It's Brett's last tie down in New Zealand and he wants to play well and the lower-ranked players they send down the better for us," Simpson said.
The New Zealand team has not been confirmed but should be identical to the squad which started in the 3-2 win over South Korea in Christchurch in April. - NZPA
Spain are expected to send a below full-strength team to face New Zealand in their Davis Cup tennis rubber at Hamilton later this month.
World No 8 Alex Corretja, 10th-ranked Carlos Moya - who pulled out of this week's US Open through injury - and Albert Costa (21st) are not expected
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