And the passion shows no sign of dimming, because no-one is looking forward more to the Asia-Oceania qualifying tie against China starting today more than Lleyton Hewitt.

The baseline warrior holds the record for most Davis Cup victories by an Australian and Leg 1this weekend he draws level with Todd Woodbridge for most ties played (32).

Hewitt, who turns 31 later this month, was the key member of Australia's most recent Cup-winning team in 2003.

He was in the last Australian team to play in the World Group, which bowed out in a tight first-round tie to Belgium in 2007.

And he lost the deciding match of last year's world group play-off to Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.

But unlike many other top-liners such as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal _ who are giving Davis Cup duty a miss this weekend _ there was never any doubt that Hewitt would yet again put his country first.

``Getting back into the world group would mean a lot,'' Hewitt said yesterday ahead of the encounter at the Geelong Lawn Tennis Club.

``It's the whole team's goal at the moment _ it's Pat Rafter's goal as captain and Rochey's (Tony Roche) goal as the coach.''