Andy Murray faces a man who stopped playing professionally four years ago as Great Britain tackle Luxembourg in the Davis Cup in Glasgow this weekend.
The world number four takes on unranked Laurent Bram at the Braehead Arena after James Ward and Gilles Muller play Friday's first rubber. Bram has lost nine of his 11 Davis Cup singles matches and is now a coach.
Murray said: "I've had a great last few days, practised well. I have always enjoyed playing Davis Cup."
Britain will face Belarus or Hungary in a promotion play-off in September if they are victorious this weekend.
After the singles, Murray and his brother Jamie will compete in their first Davis Cup doubles match together when they play Bram and 18-year-old Mike Vermeer on Saturday.
On Sunday afternoon Murray will open against Muller, who is ranked 81 in the world, before Ward and Bram complete the Europe/Africa Group II encounter.
Following his Wimbledon semi-final exit to Rafael Nadal, Murray admitted he was buoyed by involvement in the Davis Cup tie - his first under captain Leon Smith - in front of an enthusiastic Scottish crowd, with all the tickets already sold for the first day's play.
"We went to a tennis club yesterday in Paisley and got really good support, everyone has been really upbeat and positive," Murray said."That's been great, something you need this time of year. We are halfway through now so you need something to give you motivation and that has helped.
"Whether it's the best thing for me or not (after Wimbledon), I have no idea, but I have had a good week so far."I have always enjoyed playing Davis Cup. It's just different, it's a different atmosphere, a different experience and just a different build-up.
"I like that, it's refreshing. You spend the whole year on your own and now you have guys around you.
Murray pulled out of John Lloyd's last Davis Cup match in charge, a defeat by Lithuania in March 2010, citing his need to prepare properly for the 2010 season and his quest to win a Grand Slam. But when asked on Thursday about his future plans in the event he said: "I like playing for my country, always have done, and I've played well. I'm sure I'll play more than I have done in the last few years."
There was one change announced to the British squad with Daniel Evans coming in as the back-up player in place of doubles expert Colin Fleming, who has a foot injury.Click to playMurray unimpressed by 'shaving' advice
Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic is in action for holders Serbia against Sweden in the World Group quarter-finals on the indoor courts in Halmstad.
USA play Spain in Texas and Germany face France in Stuttgart, while Argentina's match against Kazakhstan began a day earlier, Juan Monaco and Juan Martin Del Potro giving their team a 2-0 advantage.
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