The 490th-ranked Wishaya will be joined at the National Tennis Development Centre by teenager Palaphoom Kovapitukted plus doubles veterans Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana in a new format which will see Thailand play only one tie this year.

The format for the premier international team event in men’s tennis has been changed – the world’s best nations will compete in a week-long “Davis Cup Finals” at the end of the year while the rest are taking part in single ties that will determine promotion and relegation.

Thailand play the Philippines, while Indonesia meet New Zealand and Hong Kong China will take on Taiwan in September..

With a strong line-up, the hosts are expected to clear this hurdle against a visiting side which has no world-ranked players. Former Australian Open doubles junior champion Francis Alcantara and 2015 SEA Games singles bronze medallist Jeson Patrombon are the main Filipino players, backed up by John Bryan Otico, Jurence Zosimo Mendoza and Alberto Lim.

Thailand’s national captain Danai Udomchoke is confident that his team will stamp their authority over the visitors after two straight wins over the past couple of years, 2017 at this venue and 2018 in Manila.

“I will use all my 15-year experience with the national team to take the team to victory,” said the former world No 77. “The players are all professionals with experience and good results [behind them]. They should achieve that target,” added the Thai skipper.

Despite being underdogs, Filipino captain Chris Cuarto says his team has no fear about the tie, will take it one rubber at a time and hope to accomplish what is regarded as “mission impossible”.

“Thailand and the Philippines have met many times and we’re familiar with each other. This will be our warm-up before the SEA Games in Manila at the end of the year,” said Cuarto.

“There is no pressure on us. Thailand have the home advantage but we still hope to achieve a good result.”