Hewitt takes Davis Cup back seat v Uzbeks Pat Rafter will gamble on the unproven Marinko Matosevic after relegating record-breaking spearhead Lleyton Hewitt to a supporting role for Australia's challenging Davis Cup playoff against Uzbekistan. Hewitt, the most prolific winner in Australian Davis Cup history, will not feature in the opening-day singles for only the second time in his record 15-year career in the competition. Instead captain Rafter on Thursday named Matosevic to face Uzbek No.1 Denis Istomin and the returning Bernard Tomic to play Farrukh Dustov in Namangan on Friday. Tomic will open the tie for Australia from 1600 AEDT. Hewitt will partner Matt Ebden in Saturday's doubles against Istomin and Dustov on the clay court of the Pahlavon Sport Complex, where Uzbekistan are unbeaten in six ties. With Matosevic winless in seven grand slam singles matches and having never played a Cup match indoors or on clay, Rafter is rolling the dice as Australia try to advance to a World Group playoff in September. Hewitt, 32, has led his country into battle in 33 of his unmatched 34 Cup ties for Australia, only ever sitting out the first-day singles in a similar second-round Asia-Oceania away tie against China in 2011. On that occasion, Hewitt had to step in after Matosevic lost on debut to clinch a 4-1 victory for Australia with success in the first reverse singles rubber. Not since Mark Philippoussis' heroic efforts in the 1999 Cup final against France in Nice - 38 ties ago in Hewitt's debut year in the competition - have Australia been able to win a tie after Hewitt has lost a rubber. Rafter said the tie was significant for 27-year-old Matosevic, who has been criticised for his attitude at times and was dropped from the crucial tie against Germany last year. "This is a big opportunity right here," Rafter told AAP. In Davis Cup situations in the past, he's been really, really poor with his attitude and this is a really big opportunity. He knows it and I just want him to show a really good attitude on the court, that's all I expect of him. Matosevic has faced Istomin only once before, losing a 2011 hard court clash in straight sets in Kuala Lumpur. Rafter believes the tough tie also represents a chance for Tomic to prove his commitment to Australia's cause. The 20-year-old is back in the side having mended his relationship with Rafter after being dropped for the first-round clash with Taiwan. "He's still got a little way to go," Rafter said. He's getting there though and he's heading in the right direction and that's all I can ask from him right now. We'll wait and see how everyone goes under these tough circumstances. The Aussie tradition and the Aussie way is to sit there and fight hard and, that way, I'm proud regardless of if we win or lose. Australia is aiming to earn a shot at returning to the top 16 for the first time since 2007. Ebden missed training and the draw on Thursday morning due to illness but is expected to recover in time for Saturday's doubles. Hewitt told local reporters he was very confident in the Australian team. "We have been very close to getting through to the World Group several times now (and we are determined to get there)," Hewitt said. We know it is going to be a tough tie (so) we came here with our best team possible and we plan to go out there and win.