Friendly fire: Fish, Falla and Volandri square off in Turin

"Alejandro is one of the nicest people I've come across in the sport," said Fish, who with two years in the job is the most experienced captain in Group E. "He's always got that [smile], that right there on his face.

"We've played a lot of matches - I certainly remember the one in Colombia that I beat him at in his home city," he added with a cheeky glance in Falla's direction. "Filippo too - I remember him in junior tennis. He was unbelievable, to the point where you didn't want to see him on a clay court."

Of the three, it is debutant Volandri who is the least experienced in the role, but in his favour are a home crowd at the Pala Alpitour in Turin and a squad brimming with world-class potential, not least the electric Jannik Sinner.

"He's growing up very fast," Volandri said. "He's 20, and like many 20-year-old guys he's emotional, but he's great at managing that. He's a really special guy; he doesn't care about the victory, he wants to improve himself. I think this is a good stage to grow up and raise his level.

"We are at the end of the season - it's like this for everybody, but especially for a guy who is 20 and who made this special year. But he's in great shape. If he's going to play it's going to be his debut, and he will be ready."

Asked how he planned to approach his new role as captain, Volandri said: "I wanted to give them the goal to make a group. We are all young, me as a captain and same for the players - even if I have two players who have played Davis Cup for many years. This is a new team and a young team. Playing at home is going to be different, and I think the crowd is going to help us."