Hewitt wary of Germany

Lleyton Hewitt has downplayed threats of a German Davis Cup ambush this week, pointing to his team’s accumulated tactical profiling of the visitors.

World No.4 Alexander Zverev and Jan-Lennard Struff will lead Germany’s challenge in Brisbane, supported by obscure world No.62 Peter Gojowczyk and world No.298 Tim Puetz.

With Mischa Zverev and Philipp Kohschreiber absent, Hewitt is confident Australia has enough intelligence on the Germans to cope.

“Our guys have seen those two (Gojowczyk and Puetz) quite a bit so, from that point of view, we know a lot about them,” Hewitt said.

“Zverev, he’s an absolutely quality player. He’s No.4 in the world. He’s a big ball striker, he likes to play on his terms and no matter who we put out there, it’s not going to be easy.

“Obviously Struff’s a pretty talented guy, singles and doubles. He’s a big hitter. Big serve, big forehand so we’ll have to try to nullify that.

“We’ll just see how their team pans out on the Thursday (day of the draw). Whoever they throw at Nick (Kyrgios), Nick will be ready.”

With a quarter-final clash at stake against either Spain or Great Britain, Hewitt is yet to decide who will support Kyrgios in singles.

He has selected Jordan Thompson, John Millman and Alex De Minaur in his five-player squad with an option to belatedly include Matt Ebden.

John Peers is likely to be partnered by Thompson in Saturday’s doubles rubber.

Hewitt said the No.2 singles player would face a huge task against Zverev.

“It will be an opportunity for any one of the guys to play against Zverev on day one but they’re gonna have their work cut out,” Hewitt said. “Even for Nick, if it goes to the fourth match, it won’t be easy.”