The Fed Cup final likely will be decided by a player who currently has a career-high ranking of 98 and has never won a WTA Tour event.

Kirsten Flipkens will be the key to Belgium's squad after Kim Clijsters pulled out injured last month.

With No. 2-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne expected to win both her singles matches Saturday and Sunday on the indoor hard court at the 6,000-capacity Spiroudome, Flipkens will be under pressure to upset either 14th-ranked Francesca Schiavone or No. 20 Flavia Pennetta for Belgium's crucial third point.

Flipkens opens against Schiavone on Saturday before Henin-Hardenne faces Pennetta, who has a sore wrist but has been cleared to play. Henin-Hardenne and Flipkens are expected to team up for Sunday's doubles.

``I don't know what my chances are,'' Flipkens said. ``We are here as a team and every point counts.''

Henin-Hardenne, the French Open champion and runner-up at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, has full confidence in the 20-year-old Flipkens.

``I trust Kirsten _ she can do something special,'' she said.

Henin-Hardenne was troubled by blurred vision in her left eye Friday and sought medical treatment for a possible infection.

In the semifinals against the U.S., Belgium played without Henin-Hardenne and Flipkens won both her matches.

``It has given me lots of confidence, but this is very different,'' Flipkens said of the final.

Schiavone knows that Flipkens' low ranking means little.

``The Fed Cup is different,'' Schiavone said. ``The most important thing is to stay focused.''

Henin-Hardenne, 24, was part of the Belgian team which won the trophy in 2001. If anything, she is a better player now. She reached all four Grand Slam finals this year.

Sunday's loss to Maria Sharapova at the U.S. Open only made her hungrier for victory. She first has to deal with a sudden change of atmosphere _ the court, the hall, the fans.

``I don't have a lot of time to get used to the surface and the conditions but we play at home and it is going to be an advantage to us,'' she said.

However, the absence of fourth-ranked Clijsters because of a lingering wrist injury could cost Belgium dearly.

``It is a big blow,'' Belgian captain Carl Maes said. ``Without a shadow of doubt, it makes a huge difference.''

Schiavone, Italy's top player, beat top-ranked Amelie Mauresmo in the Fed Cup quarter-finals.

Pennetta believes she can test Henin-Hardenne.

``Maybe I can beat her, you never know,'' Pennetta said. ``I'm feeling good. I can play both singles.''

Italy captain Corrado Barazzutti can also call on reserve Mara Santangelo. She won her first WTA Tour event earlier this year, reached the third round of the U.S. Open and is ranked a career-high 33rd.

Overall, Italy leads Belgium 6-0 in Fed Cup play. Belgium has one title, while Italy has never won the cup.

© The Canadian Press, 2007