Tim Henman believes Andy Murray can shoulder the pressure of playing three days in a row in Argentina despite describing Great Britain's first Davis Cup tie back in the elite World Group as "a tough task."

The 20-year-old Scot has inherited the unenviable task of carrying the nation's hopes following this year's retirement of 33-year-old Henman and 34-year-old Greg Rusedski.

His first appearance as the senior member of a young team will come on clay in the intimidating atmosphere at Parque Roca in Buenos Aires in February.

"It isn't unwinnable but it's going to be very tough because they've got amazing strength in depth, home advantage and playing on clay is a tough task for us.

"But you've always got to go there with a belief that you can cause an upset," said Henman.

While Argentina have 11 players in the world top 100 - including David Nalbandian, Guillermo Canas and Juan Ignacio Chela in the top 20 - Britain's second singles player is expected to be Alex Bogdanovic, currently 161 in the world, or Murray's fellow Scot Jamie Baker, ranked 227, with Murray's brother Jamie the doubles specialist.

"I'm sure they're under no illusions how tough it is but view it as a great challenge," continued Henman.

Henman himself retired once from Davis Cup tennis but the emergence of Murray saw him return until he eventually ended his career after helping Britain beat Croatia amid emotional scenes on Wimbledon's number one court in September.

With Rusedski having quit after the previous victory over Holland in April, Britain will be praying that nothing happens to Murray in the build-up as they seek their first World Group win since the team of current non-playing captain John Lloyd, Jeremy Bates and Colin Dowdeswell beat Spain back in 1986.

Henman is certainly not underestimating the pressure on Murray, currently 11th in the world, two places behind Argentina's top player Nalbandian.

"It's difficult. It's much easier when you are winning but it's a physical challenge playing fives sets on clay Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

"You are going to need to be mentally resilient in that type of environment but plenty have done it in the past and I'm sure Andy will do it in the future but it emphasises the point that we need to get some greater strength in depth."

Both Henman and three-times Wimbledon champion Stefan Edberg, his opponent in a charity match for the Teenage Cancer Trust at London's Royal Albert Hall, believe that a whole generation of British players - and Swedes - have lacked the necessary dedication.

Edberg said: "The Russians, Asians and Latin Americans are probably hungrier. If it is the only way to buy your family an apartment or their first refrigerator, that's a driving force to play for three or four hours at a time, day out and day in.

"The reason we were so good was that Swedish players in the eighties worked harder than any other tennis nation but others work harder now."

Henman agreed: "The responsibility has to lie with the players and there have been far too many examples in this country over the last 20 years who haven't maximised their potential.

"They haven't had the desire and motivation to achieve what they could achieve."