After battling it out in the sweltering heat of the California desert and Miami Beach, ATP players will once again fight in the name of their countries in the Davis Cup quarter-finals from April 6 to 8.

These ties are a great way to end the hard-court season, just in time to usher in the European clay court period. Here's a look at the line-ups:

Russia vs France
The defending champions will battle it out on home ground with France. However, they will do this not at the  Olympic Stadium (where they twice lost finals before making it third time lucky in 2006) but at the small Luzhniki sport arena. In the opening round, Russia struggled to overcome home favourites Chile 3-2, while France had an easier victory over Romania, 4-1. France will be seeking vengeance for their loss to Russia in the 2002 final. The team, led by young gun Richard Gasquet and veteran Sebastian Grosjean, will fly to Moscow to battle it out on the indoor red clay. But coach Guy Forget admits that the odds are against France, especially since the Russian team comprises top players enjoying good results these days -- Marat Safin, Mikhail Youzhny, Nikolay Davydenko, Dimitry Tursunov and Igor Andreev. Moreover, Shamil Tarpischev is the only coach to have won two Davis Cup and Fed Cup titles. Russia lead France 4-2 in the head to head.

Sweden v. Argentina
Argentina, the beaten 2006 finalists, were so close to clinching their first Davis Cup title. Will they finally bag it this year? Alongside David Nalbandian and Juan Ignacio Chela, the Argentinians are strengthened by 18-year-old Juan-Martin Del Potro and comeback king Guillermo Cañas, who ended world No.1 Roger Federer’s 41-match winning streak in Indian Wells. After defeating Austria, Argentina now face Sweden, who beat Belarus. The Swedish team led by Robin Soderling will enjoy home court advantage in Gothenburg on indoor Taraflex carpet. It would be exciting to see which team will get the higher end as they stand at 1-1. 

Belgium v. Germany
Belgians Kristof Vliegen and Olivier Rochus sent Lleyton Hewitt and Co packing after edging out Australia 3-2. They now face the formidable Germans, led by Tommy Haas, who defeated 2005 champions Croatia, also 3-2. Germany lead Belgium 7- 0 in head to head. These neighbouring countries will face one another on indoor clay courts at Sleuyter Arena, Ostend.

USA v Spain
Andy Roddick, James Blake and the Bryan brothers ousted the Czech Republic and now face Spain, who eliminated Switzerland, although Roger Federer was not part of the team. World No.2 Rafael Nadal also did not play in the opening round but has rejuvenated his form after winning recently at Indian Wells. However, the Spaniards will not be able to display their clay-court prowess as the United States chose a hard-court surface to aid the game of their players. The US lead Spain 4-3 and it remains to be seen whether Nadal will play this time, as he himself told Reuters that he is unsure if he will be part of the team.