Challenge ... Pat Rafter throws down the gauntlet to Tomic. Source: News Limited
Pat Rafter says Bernard Tomic still has to prove his commitment to Davis Cup but believes he can take a giant leap towards doing so under trying conditions against Uzbekistan.
Tomic returns for Australia after ending his feud with Rafter and shapes as the key component in the must-win Asia/Oceania second-round tie starting in Namangan on Friday (1600 AEDT).
With a spot in September's World Group playoffs on the line, an Australian team including Lleyton Hewitt, Marinko Matosevic and Matthew Ebden will attempt to earn a shot at returning to the top 16 for the first time since 2007.
While they are stronger on paper, Australia are up against it in many ways, with the Pahlavon Sport Complex clay court heavily favouring the Uzbeks, who are unbeaten in six ties there.
A punishing travel schedule to reach the remote north-eastern Uzbek city and two-star accommodation have also made life tough for the visitors.
After initially indicating in January he would not be available for the tie, Tomic insisted upon his recall this month that he was ready to give his all for Australia.
And Rafter feels the challenging environment presents the 20-year-old with a perfect chance to prove it.
"He's still got a little way to go," Rafter said of Tomic's attitude and commitment.
"He's getting there though and he's heading in the right direction and that's all I can ask from him right now.
"But until we get under that pressure situation ... we'll wait and see how everyone goes under these tough circumstances.
"The Aussie tradition and the Aussie way is to sit there and fight hard and, that way, I'm proud regardless of if we win or lose."
After Tomic was dropped from the first-round clash against Taiwan, the pair cleared the air after the Australian Open, with Rafter saying they were back on "not great, but good terms".
But having spent time together in Miami and Munich in preparation for this weekend's tie, Rafter said more progress had been made.
"There's been really good dialogue ... I'm telling him where I'm coming from and there's no secrets," Rafter said.
"He's been pretty good. It's little steps with Bernie but he's better than what he has been, that's for sure.
"In years to come, he can really start being a figurehead for us. He's still a fair way off but he's making improvements."
Tomic, Australia's highest-ranked player with an impressive 8-2 Davis Cup singles record, will face either Denis Istomin or Farrukh Dustov on Friday with Matosevic likely to feature in the other match-up.
Rafter said the tie was significant for 27-year-old Matosevic, who has also been criticised for his attitude at times and was dropped from the crucial tie against Germany last year.
"In Davis Cup situations in the past, he's been really, really poor with his attitude and this is a really big opportunity for him," Rafter said.
Hewitt is set to play doubles with Ebden on Saturday and Rafter commended the veteran's leadership and influence since the squad had been together.
"The boys respond well with Lleyton and they should too," he said of the nation's most successful Davis Cup player.
While Istomin is clearly Uzbekistan's biggest threat, Rafter felt it was the matches against little-known, 196cm Dustov that could prove pivotal.
