Nadal is still suffering from a knee injury which forced him out of the Miami Masters last week, but world number five David Ferrer returns for the home tie alongside Nicolas Almagro (12), Marcel Granollers (26) and Marc Lopez (1147).

The 30-year-old Ferrer arrives with three titles under his belt this season, with victories in Acapulco, Buenos Aires and Auckland.

Spain have drifted out to 9/2 fourth favourites with Sky Bet for the Davis Cup crown following Nadal's injury setback, but are still expected to be too strong for Austria.

Austria are returning to the last eight for the first time in 17 years and will be looking to add a second semi-final appearance to their only other one in 1990.

Jurgen Melzer, ranked 21, leads an Austrian side comprising Andreas Haider-Maurer (139), Alexander Peya (708) and doubles specialist Oliver Marach.

Unexpected

"It's going to be difficult," said Ferrer. "Jurgen Melzer is a great player, who beat me on clay like he did Nico Almagro. They're (the Austrians) among the best in the world in the doubles."

Spain have not tasted defeat at home since 1999 but Austria captain Clemens Trimmel said his side were hoping to bring an end to that record on Friday.

"As we have seen on many occasions in the past, the Davis Cup often writes its own rules. Unexpected things can happen," said Trimmel. "We are quite happy in the role of the underdog."

All four of Friday's ties are set to take place on clay with France playing the United States in the Monte Carlo Country Club, the Czech Republic hosting Serbia in Prague and Argentina and Croatia going head to head in Buenos Aires.

But three of the world's top players will not be competing for their countries in the team event, with Serbia's world number one Novak Djokovic, Nadal and ninth-ranked American Mardy Fish, all missing out.

Specialist

Nine-time winners France take on USA, who have won the title a record 32 times, without injured Gael Monfils, ranked 14th.

Gilles Simon (13th) replaces him alongside sixth-ranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Julien Benneteau (31) and Michael Llodra (48).

The Americans will be led by world number 11 John Isner, alongside 19-year-old Ryan Harrison (66) and top-ranked doubles pairing Bob and Mike Bryan.

The Czech Republic and Serbia sit level at five apiece in previous meetings, their last coming in the 2010 semi-final when Djokovic and Janko Tipsarevic pulled Serbia back from 2-1 down on the final day.

The Serbs, who went on to win the title, are led by eighth-ranked Tipsarevic. He is joined by Viktor Troicki (27th), Dusan lajovic (228) and doubles specialist Nenad Zimonjic.

The Czech Republic, winners in 1980, will be counting on Tomas Berdych (7th) and Radek Stepanek (24) to win their singes rubbers.