Great Britain captain Leon Smith has warned his team they will have to be at their best to beat in-form Slovakia in the Davis Cup.
World number four Andy Murray misses the match, which starts on Friday, after picking up minor injuries in his run to the Australian Open semi-finals.
"Expectations need to be realistic about where we are at this weekend," said Smith.
"We can win it but it's going to be very tough."
Murray played in Great Britain's last two ties as they won promotion back to the Europe/Africa Zone Group 1 with victories over Luxembourg and Hungary in 2011.
With the Scot missing, Great Britain will have to make up a sizeable difference in ranking between their top pair of Dan Evans and James Ward and their Slovak counterparts.
Slovak number one Lukas Lacko is ranked at 65 in the world after reaching the final of an ATP Tour event in Zagreb earlier this year, while Marin Klizan is 120th.
James Ward is ranked at 156 with Evans 276th.
British doubles team Ross Hutchins and Colin Fleming also face a tough encounter with experienced duo Filip Polasek and Michal Mertinak.
"I want the guys to go out very well prepared, know what they're trying to do tactically, execute the best they can and see where it takes us," added Smith.
"Someone who's young like Dan Evans has got to learn, if he's got ambitions to climb up the rankings and be at this level, this is it, this is who he's got to play against, so I think it's a good opportunity."
9 February 2012
Last updated at 19:22
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/16969780
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