TENNIS/ Davis Cup: If rankings alone are to decide Ireland's fate against Slovenia in this Davis Cup match at Fitzwilliam, then the home side may be in for a torrid weekend. The European/African Zone match will decide if Ireland are relegated into Group Three or survive to maintain their Davis Cup status.

Slovenia lost their first-round tie in the group to Algeria, while Ireland went down to Finland, but the visitors' international rankings are higher, the top Slovenian, Grega Zemala, placed at 397 and Luka Gregorc at 458. Marko Tkalec has a 557 ranking while the fourth team member, Martin Rmus, has no listed ranking.

Those figures compare favourably to Ireland, with the top-ranked Conor Niland coming in at 434, Kevin Sorensen at 858 and Stephen Nugent at 1,432. Swords player James Cluskey has no listed ranking.

With Peter Clarke and Louk Sorensen not considered because of injury, Ireland are somewhat weakened but with Niland having performed well on the collegiate circuit up until leaving Berkeley University, California, and Nugent doing well in recent domestic events, including the final of last weekend's Dublin championships in Carrickmines, there is some form for captain Owen Casey to tap into.

The teams know each other well, primarily because they operate at approximately the same level in Davis Cup competition. Ireland won the 1999 meeting (3-2), played on carpet in Riverview, while Slovenia won the 2002 quarter-final (3-2), the match played in Portoro on clay.

The Fitzwilliam surface could, however, be to Ireland's advantage as most countries outside these islands play much of their outdoor tennis on clay.

The first two singles matches take place today, beginning at 2pm, with the doubles starting on Saturday at the same time.

If the match is still alive by Sunday, the reverse singles could decide the outcome. They start an hour later at 3pm.