BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Australia's Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald has said he was confident his team could beat Argentina in this weekend's first round match despite the absence of some of its top stars.

World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, weakened by a bout of chickenpox, and eighth-ranked Patrick Rafter will not play for Australia when they face a strong Argentine team at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club from February 8-10.

"This is a new team that has the chance to prove itself at this match," Fitzgerald said.

"It's a team of the future and it will be a great chance for our players to face a very good Argentine team."

Fitzgerald will lead a team made up of Andrew Ilie, Wayne Arthurs, Scott Draper and Todd Woodbridge.

Argentina's Alejandro Gattiker will lead a team consisting of Guillermo Canas -- ranked 15th in the world -- as well as Gaston Gaudio, Juan Ignacio Chela and Lucas Arnold.

Fitzgerald also added Australia had been pleasantly surprised by the calm in Buenos Aires despite a series of street protests over the last month amid a long recession.

"We saw the images on television and we were worried and unsure of what would happen here," Fitzgerald said. "But now we're pleased because everything's fine and they have been treating us very well."

In two previous Davis Cup meetings between these sides in 1977 and 1990, Australia beat Argentina in the semifinals.

The winner of the series will face either Germany or Croatia in April.