Andy Murray takes on Potito Starace in the clash between Great Britain and Italy at the Hopman Cup.
French Open champion Francesca Schiavone takes on teenager Laura Robson in the opening rubber so it is likely that Murray will not be able to afford any slip-ups in his opening match of 2011 if Britain are to retain a chance of making the final again.
Murray made a fast start to the season at the Hopman Cup in 2010, winning three of his four matches all in straight sets and he only slipped up against Tommy Robredo in the final.
It proved to be the perfect preparation for the Australian Open so he was keen to return again this year. Starace is a tricky opponent, a good shot-maker with a ferocious forehand and he proved a bit of a handful at the French Open back in 2009, Murray just about seeing him off in four sets.
However that was on clay. Now they're on Murray's domain – outdoor hard courts and it is likely that the world number four will simply have too many weapons. Murray has been talking a lot this week about the work he has put into his serve over the off season so it will be fascinating to see how that translates into competitive match play.
