by Brian Webber, FOXSports.com

David Nalbandian has Argentina in line for its first ever Davis Cup title. (Hamish Blair / Getty Images)

And even though top-ranked Rafael Nadal won't be able to play in this tie because of a knee injury, the Davis Cup final between Spain and Argentina could add another dramatic chapter to tennis' rich international history.

Argentina — in its third Davis Cup final and second in the last three years — is trying to become the first South American nation to capture the Davis Cup. That quest has become less daunting because Nadal has been sidelined with knee tendonitis that also forced him to miss the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai.

Faced with the prospect of taking on a Spanish squad led by one of the greatest clay-court players ever, the Argentines decided in October to avoid the dirt and opted to play the final indoors on a hardcourt in the coastal resort town of Mar del Plata.

Argentina hopes that the change of surface won't change its recent domestic success — unbeaten on its home soil in Davis Cup play over the last decade, winning 13 consecutive home ties. September's semifinal tie between Russia and Argentina in Buenos Aires featured a raucous atmosphere that should be even more intense in the intimate indoor setting of Estadio Islas Malvinas when the Davis Cup is on the line. Soccer icon Diego Maradona is expected to be among the 8,000 fans that could make these matches feel more like a World Cup final than a Davis Cup final.

Argentina team captain Alberto Mancini has plenty of talent to choose from. David Nalbandian has been willing to play singles and doubles, producing a sparkling 26-8 Davis Cup record. While Nalbandian has battled injury and inconsistency in 2008, the former Wimbledon finalist played well in his win over Igor Andreev to give Argentina the first point in the semifinal against Russia. Nalbandian should be very comfortable indoors. His success last month reaching the final of the ATP Masters Series tournament in Paris was just the latest reminder of what the Argentine veteran can do playing under a roof.

Juan Martin del Potro is emerging as one of Argentina's most popular athletes. He's moved past Nalbandian to become the top-ranked Argentine, breaking into the top ten while posting a 45-13 record this year. Del Potro maintained the momentum of his outstanding summer hard-court season with a pair of victories against Russia. Del Potro used authoritative shot making to beat Andreev and was energized by the passionate crowd in Buenos Aires. The Davis Cup final will provide another high-profile stage for this rising star to shine. The doubles rubber often decides Davis Cup play. Argentina can turn to veterans Jose Acasuso and Agustin Calleri who have played well with Nalbandian in recent years.

Spain will by miss more than Nadal's wizardry on the court. Nadal has always seemed to relish the opportunity of representing his country. When he was just 18 years old, the Mallorcan was instrumental in Spain's Davis Cup victory in 2004 playing alongside Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero. Because Moya, Ferrero, Tommy Robredo, and Nicolas Almagro were unavailable, Spanish captain Emilio Sanchez turned to unheralded Marcel Granollers to replace Nadal on the roster.

With Rafael Nadal out, David Ferrer is Spain's top player. (Hamish Blair / Getty Images)

It will be up to David Ferrer, however, to try to provide the intensity that Nadal would have brought his team. Ferrer helped Spain advance to its sixth Davis Cup final by outlasting Andy Roddick in a marathon five-set match in Madrid. Ferrer has won a pair of singles titles this year and posted 44 match victories. While he represented his country at the Olympic Games in Beijing, Ferrer has limited international experience; the final will be just his sixth Davis Cup tie. It will be intriguing to see how Ferrer handles the pressure of playing a lead role for his nation.

Fernando Verdasco gives Spain another top 20 player to lean on as they go after their third Davis Cup title this decade. While Verdasco would certainly have been happier if the final were played on clay, he played well indoors in October while reaching the semifinals in St. Petersburg. Verdsasco and Feliciano Lopez could be the wild card if they are paired on the doubles court. While the Spaniards have demonstrated chemistry on the court, they were unable to secure a victory in the Davis Cup semifinal against the American duo of Mike Bryan and Mardy Fish, filling in for the injured Bob Bryan.

Spain has won its two prior meetings with Argentina in Davis Cup play. However, both of those ties were played on the Iberian peninsula. Spain will have to travel to Argentina looking for its first victory in a Davis Cup final on the road.

Emmy Award winning broadcaster Brian Webber is the lead studio host of FOXSports.com's video content. Webber has served as a play-by-play broadcaster and studio host for Tennis Channel since 2003.