Australia is set to buck 103 years of Davis Cup history by playing a home tie on clay for the first time when it meets Great Britain in an opening round tie in February.

While an official announcement about the court surface is not expected until Friday, it is understood that Australia has opted for the slow surface.

Australia has traditionally chosen grass as its surface of choice but will go with clay in Sydney to counter the serve-volley game of British No.1 Tim Henman.

Tennis Australia contracted a French expert on the surface to see if one could be built in time for the tie and it is believed to have received a favourable response.

While Australia has had less than spectacular success on the surface in Davis Cup - five wins from 14 world group ties since 1983 - it is likely to field one of its strongest ever combinations on clay this time round.

No.1 singles player Lleyton Hewitt reached the quarter-finals at the French Open on clay last year and also defeated Gustavo Kuerten in a Davis Cup match on the surface in Brazil in 2001.

Mark Philippoussis, who has declared his availability pending the state of his health, led Australia to Davis Cup glory with two outstanding wins on clay indoors in Nice in 1999.

He also won a clay court title in Munich in 1997.

Speaking during last month's Tennis Masters Cup in China, Hewitt said he was lukewarm about the prospect of playing on clay but indicated it was more a question about the quality of the court.

"(There's) still a lot of unknowns with a clay court," he said.

"At the end of the day, I'd like to speak to the person who would be organising the clay court and see how it's going to play.

"If it's not going to be a good enough clay court, then we don't have a choice, in my opinion."

Meanwhile, the surface may not be Great Britain's only concern with news that expected No.2 singles player Greg Rusedski was considered doubtful to recover from a foot injury in time for the February 7-9 tie.

The 29-year-old former US Open finalist underwent a similar operation on his foot in 1999 and subsequently missed first round Davis Cup action in February 2000.

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