Released from the expectation of victory, Ireland's Davis Cup team is threatening to enjoy the clash with Croatia in the Euro/African Group Two second round clash at Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, which starts today (2 p.m.).

The presence of former world number three Goran Ivanisevic in the Croatian team, coupled with infinitely superior rankings on the part of the visiting side, perpetuate the notion that Ireland may be overwhelmed. But Ireland's non-playing captain, the American-born Peter Wright, is bullish, suggesting that not alone is his team playing well but that they are capable of actually winning.

Whether this is merely courage of the "whistling in the graveyard" variety, or a genuine belief in his charges will be quickly discovered today. Wright has reason to be defiant, and one senses that his players, Scott Barron and Owen Casey, who play in the singles and doubles, will relish the opportunity to pit themselves against Ivanisevic.

Barron refuses to be overawed: "The fact that Goran is playing is something to which we look forward. He was once in the top three and is still an excellent player. One of the reasons that you play Davis Cup is to compete against the big countries and play the big players. In a sense all the pressure is on them. I am just going to enjoy it."

Noble sentiments, but the Croatians are eager to point out that they do not feel under any pressure. Their attitude is that favouritism is not a millstone provided that the proper preparation is enforced and that the opposition is not under-estimated. Ivanisevic has admitted that the only Irish player he knows is Casey, having bumped into him at the Olympic doubles qualifiers in Austria in 1988.

One suspects that he won't suffer any sleepless nights about renewing acquaintances in their singles match this afternoon. Croatia boast a young team, including 16-year-old schoolboy Mario Ancic, who reached the final of Junior Wimbledon, and the six-foot, nine-inch Ivo Karlovic.

Casey's victory over Karlovic in the first round of the recent Futures tournament at Mount Pleasant will be a feat that the Irish will focus upon when motivating themselves.

If Ireland are to win then one suspects that Barron and Casey are in for a long weekend: logic and the formbook suggests that Sunday's matches may be rendered irrelevant.