There is a mouthwatering Davis Cup semifinal coming up this weekend. Russia will play host to the USA in Moscow on indoor clay courts. The tie should be explosive because of the high stakes and the level of tennis displayed by those who promise to be protagonists in recent weeks.

Andy Roddick is in the middle of his renaissance. Since hooking up with Jimmy Connors earlier this summer, Roddick has rediscovered his game and his enthusiasm. He won in Cincinnati and then made a run to the final of the US Open.

USA Davis Cup coach, Patrick McEnroe will hope that Roddick's 11th defeat in 12 matches against Roger Federer has not dampened his enthusiasm overmuch.

James Blake should provide ample backup, as far as the singles rubbers are concerned. In fact, Blake might find life easier on the clay than Roddick. His performance at the French Open this year certainly seems to suggest that his aversion to the surface is not as deep as his compatriot’s. However, that is a relative factor considering that the Russians are likely to have chosen a heavier, slower clay than that found at Roland Garros.

Completing the USA lineup are the Bryant brothers. They will be heavy favorites to win the doubles rubber which could well be decisive.

Russia, for its part, has several things going in their favor. There is the surface, of course, and the home court advantage. More than that though, Russian tennis fans will be thrilled to note the return to a semblance of form of Marat Safin.

Safin, like Roddick, a former world number one, produced his best tennis in months at the US Open. He beat number fourth-seeded David Nalbandian and Oliver Rochus. Beating Rochus in straight sets does not immediately strike one as an exploit, but given how crazy the Belgian has driven Safin in the past, it's an indication that the Russian is starting to get his groove back.

Don't let Safin's current ranking, well outside the Top 50, fool you. Playing for his country has always transcended Safin to a level of focus that can be hard for him to reproduce in other circumstances. If he's on song, Safin is capable of single handling deciding this tie.

It's unlikely to come to that, however, because one of Russia's strengths is its depth. Davydenko might not be as extroverted as Safin or Dmitry Tursunov, but on court he is extremely solid. He's a multi surface player as proved by his semifinal at the US Open this year and semifinal at the French last year.

Mikhail Youzhny will be another threat to the USA. He was absolutely brilliant against Rafael Nadal in the US Open quarterfinals and he took a set off of Roddick in the semi. Neither is Youzhny any stranger to the pressures of the Davis Cup. In 2002 he won the fifth rubber against Frenchman Paul Henri Mathieu to cinch the title for Russia.

Tursunov is an explosive player but not as comfortable on clay as his compatriots.

Shamil Tarpichev, Russia's Davis Cup captain (their Fed Cup captain as well) is a fine tactician and he hardly ever gets in wrong. He might do the unexpected but it usually pays off.

Let's speculate a little. It's not a stretch to imagine that the first two singles will see Roddick and Blake battling Safin and Davydenko.

Roddick's biggest obstacle will be ensuring the efficiency of his serve. That is no small feat with the surface working against him. Nevertheless, it will be essential, especially when he is playing Safin. Davydenko will give the American a few more looks on his serve than Safin will. Another tactic for Roddick to adopt is to test Safin's forehand. The only problem is, if Safin is on form like he was at the US Open, his forehand will be as lethal as his backhand.

Blake is more stable off the backhand side than Roddick and that will be an advantage for him against Safin, but especially against Davydenko. He is also more comfortable than Roddick in longer rallies, which will be another plus against Davydenko. It's less likely to matter against Safin whose power off the baseline allows him to finish points quickly.

Russia is probably a 60/40 favorite. Look out for the X-factor, Mikhail Youzhny. The Americans will be hoping to beat the odds and make the final. 

The other Davis Cup semifinal pits Australia vs. Argentina.