Spanish tennis ace Rafael Nadal said on Thursday that he was up to the challenge of leading his country's mission to retain tennis David Cup.

Spain meets the Czech Republic over three days in Barcelona, starting on Friday. The Spanish team, consisting of Nadal, David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco, aims to repeat the feat the Sweden achieved in 1998 of defending the title for which Spain won last year in Argentina.

Nadal, currently ranked number two in the World after a season interrupted by injuries will be first on court, in which he faces Tomas Berdych in the opening singles rubber on Friday afternoon.

Spain's Rafael Nadal trains at Sant Jordi stadium in Barcelona Dec. 2, 2009. Spain and the Czech Republic will play their Davis Cup final from 4th to 6th in Barcelona

His contribution will be vital to the Spanish triumph, but Nadal was at pains to highlight he was only part of a four-man team.

"They didn't need me last year, I was just another spectator," he said in Thursday's press conference.

The Spanish have opted to play on clay, which is their favorite playing surface, but Nadal admitted he would have some problems returning to a surface that is used more in the early part of the season than at this time of year.

He has not played on a clay court since his defeat in the French Open at the end of May.

"Obviously you need time to adapt to a change of surface and within the time I've been available to do that, I think I have adapted well."

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