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Spain hope power-deadening clay and a resilient band of baseliners will combine to blunt US firepower at this week's Davis Cup final.
The Spaniards, champions in 2000, have chosen a venue at sea level and laid down the slowest surface possible in Seville to welcome the world's fastest server Andy Roddick and his team mates.
Spain feature two former world number ones - Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero - to face Roddick, the top player in the world in 2003 who is desperate to finish this season in style.
"None of us have won a grand slam title this year," Roddick said of the US team. "So we really want to compensate for that and come up with something special at the end.
"Davis Cup is just so special that this is going to be a great occasion whatever happens, but the difference between winning and losing will be pretty huge.
"To win the Cup for the States with this young team we have would be just awesome." The US, the most successful team in Davis Cup history, last won the title in 1995.
Roddick's team mate Mardy Fish wants to atone for a painful defeat in August's Olympic final and Moya missed Spain's glorious victory over Australia in the 2000 final.
"It's going to be really exciting - I've even been dreaming about this moment," Moya said ahead of the final starting on Friday.
"Playing at home we've got an advantage but they've got a great team. I tell you, the atmosphere is going to be amazing."
"You know we've won 11 straight ties at home so I think we are favourites. But the US have a very balanced, strong team for Davis Cup. Even though we know we are favourites, now we have to take advantage of that."
Roddick is under no illusions about the task ahead and will probably need to win both his singles if the Americans are to take the title.
"It is going to be cold conditions, the clay is going to be slow and they are going to have 23,000 of their closest friends there so definitely the cards are stacked against us.
"But there'll be no surprises E we know what to expect."
The US and Spain have met six times in Davis Cup, with the Americans 4-2 up. Both Spanish wins have been at home on clay.
"We prefer faster courts than...the slowest red clay E and they play extremely well at home," said Fish. The US team believe they have a major advantage in their doubles pairing, twins Mike and Bob Bryan.
"Andy and the Bryan brothers haven't even lost a set yet (in a Davis Cup match) this year. We're extremely confident in that aspect," Fish said.
"We don't have to beat them in an entire tournament. We don't even have to win five times, all you need is three points."
Spain's main concern is the form of Ferrero who has suffered a miserable year, plagued by illness and injury.
He pulled out of the November 1 ATP Masters Series in Paris after an early round loss at October's Madrid Masters so that he could concentrate his energies on getting fit for this final.
