Mark Philippoussis, who sparked a furore last year by refusing to play in the Davis Cup, aims to kickstart Australia's Davis Cup final challenge when he faces French rookie Sebastien Grosjean in today's opening match.

French number one Cedric Pioline will then face 18-year-old Australian rookie Lleyton Hewitt in the second singles. The doubles will pit French pair Fabrice Santoro and Olivier Delaitre against veteran Australian combination Mark Wood forde and Todd Woodbridge and the reverse singles will see 13th-ranked Pioline play 19th-ranked Philippoussis, followed by 27th-ranked Grosjean against 22nd-ranked Hewitt.

French captain Guy Forget decided against making a late change to his squad and stuck with Pioline and Grosjean as his singles players, although official reserve Nicolas Escude could still play in the reverse singles in case of an injury.

"I decided that I had no reason to change the players who have done so well in getting us to the final," Forget said. "I saw good things during practice, so I had no reason to wonder about my choice."

The matches will be played over three days on the indoor red clay court at the Acropolis Exhibition Centre with Philippoussis, who was told to "grow up" by captain John Newcombe after their clash last year, set to play a key role by playing in the opening matches on the first and final days in the absence of injury casualty Pat Rafter.

"I don't think I've got anything to prove," said Philippoussis yesterday when he was asked about the controversies of last year. "I'm just here, like any one of the players, doing what I have to do."

Philippoussis, fresh after an injury-enforced break earlier in the year, said he felt the big-occasion experience he gained when he faced compatriot Rafter in the 1998 US Open final will stand him in good stead this weekend.

"I learned from the pressure in that match and I feel like I'm very relaxed now. I've been hitting the ball well and I feel like I'm ready," he said.

The Pioline-Hewitt match on the opening day is a repeat of their contest at the Paris Indoors last month, when the Frenchman won on a third-set tiebreaker after a titanic struggle.

"This is a different surface and a different competition," said Hewitt.

Australian captain Newcombe believes the Pioline-Hewitt match could be pivotal.

"If Pioline were to lose on the opening day, that would be a big wound for the French team," he said.

Newcombe is confident his squad - none of whom have won the Davis Cup previously - are perfectly prepared to face a far more experienced French squad.

"We expect to be at our maximum playing ability on the day," Newcombe said. "I've been feeling very calm over the last couple of days because we can't do any more. We have prepared as well as we can do - and we are ready for the fight."

Australia are bidding for their 27th Davis Cup victory, but their first since 1986, while France are aiming for their ninth title - and their third of the decade after wins in 1991 and 1996.

"We don't have anything to fear from the Australians," said Forget. "It is not as if we are we are playing against Sampras and Agassi. We are playing at home, on our surface, with our crowd.

"I'm really confident that each one of these guys can each win one of their matches."