MOSCOW, September 9, 2008 (AFP) - Russian captain Shamil Tarpishchev on Tuesday announced a top squad headed by Nikolay Davydenko and Marat Safin to take on hosts Argentina in the Davis Cup semi-final in Buenos Aires on September 19-21.

The two cup veterans will be joined by other high-ranking players in Igor Andreev and Dmitry Tursunov, but the Russians will have to do without another stalwart in Mikhail Youzhny due to illness.

'He felt a bit dizzy recently. He's not in his top form now, while the hosts will definitely meet us with their full strength.'

'We kept all this in mind when we finalised our side's line-up,' Tarpishchev added.

Tarpishchev also named Igor Kunitsyn as a reserve.