PARIS: Weary world number two Rafael Nadal admitted reigning champions Spain were expecting a tricky tie against the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup final starting Friday in Barcelona.

The title-holders are the favourites with two top ten players in Nadal and ninth-ranked Fernando Verdasco.

But the Spanish are limping into the season finale with Nadal struggling to find energy in last week's ATP World Tour finals and Verdasco fighting for fitness following knee and foot problems.

Both players departed London's O2 Arena without a single win.

But Nadal insisted he was "feeling good" despite his poor showing and would give it everything against the Czech Republic who will be looking for just their second Davis Cup title.

"I see a complicated tournament but I feel happy to be able to help my team to keep the Cup here," he said.

"In London, I didn't play well. The surface didn't help but you have to be realistic and admit that I wasn't at my best level to take on the rivals I came up against."

The four-time Roland Garros winner believes that his return to his preferred clay surface at the Palau Sant Jordi Arena should prove a boost.

It was at this venue in 2000 that current Spanish captain Albert Costa helped Spain to their first Davis Cup title.

"Returning to clay is an important change," said Nadal, who as a 14-year-old, carried the Spanish flag at the 2000 final.

Costa said: "It's very nice to come back and try to play for a fourth Davis Cup. I know we are a bit favourites, but not much.

"The Czech Republic are a great team. We have a lot of respect for them. It will be a very tough tie. We know the Czech team will try everything to beat us. It will be very complicated and the team is aware of this."

Verdasco, meanwhile, is awaiting a scan to see if he can play.

"I have to take it one step at a time without forcing to arrive in the best possible condition and with the best feeling Friday," he said.

"I need to see day by day how I'm feeling and if I'm the best option to play. I just want to win the Davis Cup, but if I'm not ready I won't be selfish and think only about myself. I'll think about the team."

His place in the singles could be taken by 18th-ranked David Ferrer with 47-ranked Feliciano Lopez completing the team.

The Czech challenge will be spearheaded by 12th-ranked Radek Stepanek, along with Tomas Berdych (20), who are expected to play both singles and doubles. The team also includes Jan Hajek (102), Lukas Dlouhy (465).

And Stepanek warned they were in Spain to bring home the trophy.

"We are here to fulfil our dream," he told the Davis Cup website.

"I've spent two weeks preparing for this moment. You don't know how many Davis Cup finals you can play especially at my age," said the 31-year-old.

But he knows that the Spanish are always dangerous even if Nadal and Verdasco's confidence took a blow in London.

"They didn't win a match in London but when they step onto the clay court on front of their home crowd it's a completely different situation.

"I'm expecting them at full power, full strength and 100 percent motivated."

Spain lead the Czechs 3-2 with their most recent victory in the first round in 2004 on an indoor carpet court in Brno. The Spaniards went on to seal their second title that year and added a third last year.

The Spanish will be appearing in their seventh final and are attempting to become the first nation since Sweden in 1998 to retain the Davis Cup.

They have a current unbeaten home record of 17 ties while they have not been beaten in 19 ties on clay.

The Czech Republic are playing in their first final since Ivan Lendl helped them to their only Davis Cup title in 1980.