Lleyton Hewitt is likely to be named in Australia's Davis Cup team on Tuesday for the upcoming semi-final against arch-rival Argentina.

Hewitt, Australia's most successful Davis Cup player ever with 28 singles victories, has been in doubt with a knee injury.

Throughout the US Open, where Hewitt advanced to the quarter-finals before bowing out to Andy Roddick, the Australian repeatedly refused to commit to the claycourt tie.

He has been receiving specialist treatment in Sydney for the knee tendonitis he carried through the US Open.

Australia will name its four-man squad on Tuesday morning.

If Hewitt's knee injury flared up after the team is named, captain John Fitzgerald could still make changes to the squad up until the day before the tie starts in Buenos Aires on September 22.

Hewitt could delay his arrival in Argentina until as late as the middle of next week.

Should Hewitt answer the challenge from his bitter Argentine rival David Nalbandian, who is desperate to play the former world No.1 on his home patch, Australia would be entitled to feel quietly confident of springing an upset.

He would fill the No.1 singles role, with Mark Philippoussis the second singles player.

The likely doubles pairing is Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley, who claimed victories in the previous ties this year against Switzerland and Belarus.

With Guillermo Coria unavailable as he struggles from injury and a crisis of confidence, Argentine captain Alberto Mancini is almost certain to name Agustin Calleri, Jose Acasuso and Juan Ignacio Chela as Nalbandian's support cast when he announces the home team on Wednesday (AEST).

But should Hewitt not be available, Fitzgerald would be facing the very real prospect of another 5-0 drubbing after Australia, minus its spearhead, failed to win a match in the first round in Buenos Aires in 2002.

With Hewitt recovering from chicken pox, Fitzgerald was forced to call upon Scott Draper and Andrew Ilie for the singles that year and the tie was a forgettable experience for the visitors.

Travelling to South America without Hewitt again would spell another disaster, with Philippoussis - ranked a lowly 113th in the world - left to fill the No.1 singles position.

Fitzgerald would then be forced to rely on Peter Luczak, or possibly Chris Guccione, as his No.2.

Tennis Australia was much more confident than it was a week ago that Hewitt would commit to the tie.

When asked last week in New York about Australia's chances of upsetting Argentina - which also beat Australia in Sydney last year - Hewitt described the task as "an uphill battle for anyone".

"Argentina in their home country, along with Spain and France or Russia as well, are probably some of the hardest ones, I think, (to beat) away from home," Hewitt said.

Hewitt has dropped to No.19 in the world rankings after an injury-marred season.

He has also scaled back his playing commitments following the birth of his first child.

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