ANDY MURRAY need not look far to find a suitable metaphor for the uphill struggle facing the Great Britain Davis Cup team as they begin their long haul back towards the World Group against Ukraine in Odessa. The famous Potemkin Stairs rise majestically out of the harbour of this Black Sea port city and at 127 metres high they only marginally eclipse the size of the long-term task facing the British number one. First Murray is required to steer his team clear of the potential mighty embarrassment of defeat to the Ukrainians in their Euro-African Zone One relegation clash. Any unexpected tumble on his part could see Great Britain tumble back into Zone Two for the first time in 10 years and leave them facing a bleak future in the post-Greg Rusedski era. However, Murray is remaining resolutely positive ahead of the tie, which heralds the beginning of the reign of former finalist John Lloyd as British captain. Murray said: "You can either see this as a relegation match or one in which we start our quest to move back towards the World Group. I have not really thought about losing. I would be disappointed if we lost a match. I think we should win 5-0 because of our rankings compared against theirs. They are on home soil but it is a pretty small stadium so it is not going to be too intimidating." Rusedski will get the tie underway today against Ukrainian number one Sergiy Stakhovsky, the world number 188 whom Murray beat to win the 2004 US Open junior title. The Scot will follow Rusedski on court to face 17-year-old Aleksandr Dolgopolov Jnr, ranked a lowly 352nd in the world and with whom Murray also has a little bit of history. Murray said: "I played him in the US Open junior doubles. He is small so will not be dictating too many of the points." | 
