Knee injuries have robbed Spain of former French Open champions Rafael Nadal and Juan Carlos Ferrero, but the champions will still roll out the formidable David Ferrer plus Nicolas Almagro, who was picked ahead of the more experienced and higher ranked Tommy Robredo.
Spain hasn't lost at home or on clay this century, and should extend both record at the expense of a Swiss team without Roger Federer, who says he's too busy.
"We're favorites because we are playing at home, but to be favorite you have to show it on the court," Spain captain Albert Costa said at Thursday's draw.
Also starting on Friday, 2009 surprise finalist the Czech Republic visits Belgium in Bree, France meet Germany in Toulon, Russia plays India in Moscow, Sweden tackles Argentina in Stockholm, Croatia host Ecuador in Varazdin, and Serbia plays the United States in Belgrade. The Chile-Israel tie will start on Saturday because of last weekend's devastating earthquake and tsunami.
Almagro, who hasn't played in the Davis Cup since his successful debut against Peru two years ago, will open for Spain against Stanislas Wawrinka, who is 5-1 on clay in the cup. Ferrer, winner of eight of his last nine cup singles, will then play Swiss No. 2 Marco Chiudinelli. Ferrer is also coming off winning the Mexican Open last weekend.
Switzerland hasn't won a World Group tie in six years, and hasn't beaten Spain in more than 50, and captain Severin Luthi accepts the underdog tag.
"I agree that Spain is favorite," he said.
"They are missing players but they still have a great team. There are big absences from both teams. But we still have options." Russia expects to make India's first appearance in the World Group since 1998 very brief, even without injured top-10 player Nikolay Davydenko.
Replacement Igor Andreev hasn't won a live rubber since his heroics in the 2007 semifinals against Germany, while Mikhail Youzhny has played sparingly for Russia since 2007, but they should be good enough to beat India's Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna.
"We do not need to worry much," Russia captain Shamil Tarpischev said. "I mean that the result of the match will depend more on our play than that of our opponents."
World No. 2 Novak Djokovic, coming off an ATP victory in Dubai, will be expected to lead Serbia to its first win in the World Group against a depleted United States. Since its independence in 2007, Serbia has lost both first-rounders away from home in Russia in 2008 and Spain last year.
The Americans, champions in 2007, are without Andy Roddick or James Blake for the first time since 2000, but Djokovic wasn't underestimating John Isner in his cup debut or Sam Querrey, who has yet to win in the cup.
The last-minute arrival of David Nalbandian helped to boost Argentina for its tie against Sweden. Without US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro (wrist) and Juan Monaco (ribs), Argentina was a heavy underdog in Stockholm against Robin Soderling and Joachim Johansson.
Nalbandian tore an abductor last month but recovered quicker than expected, and could appear in the doubles or reverse singles.
"We have two young guys that have never played Davis Cup and not many five-set matches and it's a lot of pressure for them," Argentina captain Tito Vazquez said. "David has a big chance of playing doubles. We'll just have to see how he is." Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych led the Czechs last year to their first final since 1980, and are picked to overcome Belgium's Rochus brothers and Xavier Malisse, who will be counting on hometown support to exceed expectations.
Marin Cilic, winner of two titles this year, and Ivo Karlovic, the Delray Beach finalist last Sunday, should overpower the veteran Lapentti brothers in the first tie between Croatia and Ecuador, which is back in the World Group for the first time since 2001.
France is favored against Germany, as Gael Monfils hasn't lost to Philipp Kohlschreiber and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga hasn't lost a cup match. And Tsonga will play Benjamin Becker, who has yet to win a cup match.
The Chile-Israel venue of Coquimbo, 500 kilometers (300 miles) north of Santiago, was undamaged as it felt only a mild tremor from last Saturday's magnitude-8.8 quake and tsunami, which have killed more than 800 in Chile. But Chile's emotional team go up against 2009 semifinalist Israel keen to give their country some good news.
"I am sending a message of hope: What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger," Chile star Fernando Gonzalez said.
"We will play to try to win to create some happiness for our country, for our people, in these difficult times."