With Lleyton Hewitt injured and Mark Philippoussis still playing below par, Australia will send one its most inexperienced teams to Switzerland for the first round of the Davis Cup in two weeks.

Australian captain John Fitzgerald yesterday named a “strongest available” four-man side which contains three players who have played just two Davis Cup matches between them.

The 34-year-old Wayne Arthurs is the only regular in the team for the for the 10-12 February World Group match on indoor clay in Geneva and he is also its highest-ranked singles player at No. 97.

Arthurs will be joined by 116th-ranked Peter Luczak, Chris Guccione (No. 149) and doubles specialist Paul Hanley.

Luczak reached the fourth round at the Australian Open while Guccione and Arthurs both lost in the first round.

Fitzgerald said it was mutually agreed it was best if Philippoussis was left to continue his comeback from the injury and form slump which has dropped his ranking to No. 166.

Arthurs was troubled by a calf muscle injury during the Australian Open but said he was returning to full fitness.

Arthurs said the team believed Australian Open champion Roger Federer would be playing for Switzerland “at this stage,” although Federer has not confirmed whether he will.

“We’re planning that he’s going to be there,” Arthurs said.

The highest-ranked Swiss players behind Federer are Stanislas Wawrinka (49) and George Bastl (137).