United States Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez admits her team is a decided underdog against host Italy in this weekend's Fed Cup final.

Playing without World No. 1 Serena Williams, who pulled out of the final just days after agreeing to represent the USA, the Americans are navigating a pool of pressure on the red clay of the 5,400-seat "Rocco Polimeni", Reggio Calabria, but will unleash a Shark in Saturday's opening singles match.

The draw for this weekend's final was conducted today and it pits 132nd-ranked Alexa Glatch, a former childhood swimmer nicknamed the "Shark" for her prowess in the pool, against 11th-ranked Flavia Pennetta. Saturday's second singles match features US Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin against Moscow champion Francesca Schiavone.

The Glatch-Pennetta match represents an opportunity for the Americans to take an early lead.

Though Pennetta is ranked 121 spots higher and is the more accomplished and experienced player, Glatch crushed the Italian, 6-1, 6-1, in the French Open first round in May. Standing 6-feet tall, the 20-year-old from Newport Beach figures to see an abundance of slice shots this weekend as the Italians try to make her play the low ball, but Glatch says after a week of practice she feels comfortable on clay.

"I actually enjoy playing on the red clay. When I was younger, it was actually my favorite surface," Glatch said. "I think it's a lot of fun to play on. I like the sliding. I think my game, my variety, plays well to the surface. So, you know, I don't think it's a problem."

Since that surprising Roland Garros setback, Pennetta has posted a 35-11 record, winning eight of her last nine clay-court matches, including the Palermo title in July. The workload has taken a toll, however, as Pennetta has been pained by a knee injury in recent weeks.

"I'm OK. I'm working a lot in the last two weeks with my physical therapist and it's much better," Pennetta told Fed Cup.com when asked about her knee injury. "I think this is my best year. The season was incredible and I played very well in the US this summer. If we win it's gonna be perfect and anyway if we lose it's gonna be a good year for me and a good final. I hope it's gonna finish in a perfect way."

Schiavone, whose court coverage, supreme conditioning and ability to play heavy topspin off both wings as well as slice off her backhand makes her the most accomplished clay-court player in the final, beat Oudin in their lone career clash, but Oudin was only 16 at the time.  

"I think I've improved a lot since then. She's been playing amazing as well," Oudin said. "We've both had good years, so I think it's going to be a really good match tomorrow."

Including qualifying and ITF events, Oudin posted a 13-5 record on clay this season. The 16th-ranked Schiavone registered an 8-5 clay-court record, but beat Roland Garros champion Svetlana Kuznetsova (in Fed Cup play) and World No. 1 Serena Williams on clay this season. 

In Sunday's reverses singles, Oudin plays Pennetta followed by Glatch against Schiavone in the final singles match. The doubles match that concludes the best-of-five match final pits World No. 1 doubles Liezel Huber and Vania King, who replaced Serena on the squad, against Italy's Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci.

"I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. This team has my commitment," Huber told the Fed Cup website. "Every player here, my captain, and my country have my commitment. I chose to play for the U.S. so anything and everything I do this week, I shine through my country and my team."

The clay-court challenged Americans must win at least one of the two openings singles matches tomorrow to have any legitimate shot of claiming their first Fed Cup championship since 2000.

The United States is 9-0 against Italy, but this weekend's final marks the first time the Italians will host a Fed Cup final. Italy, which upset host Belgium to capture the 2006 Fed Cup championship, is contesting its third final in the past four years. The USA is playing in its 27th Fed Cup final and seeking its record-extending 18th Fed Cup championship. Fernandez is hoping the pressure on the hosts will work to her team's advantage.

"I always think the home country feels the pressure a lot more. In a final, there's an added dimension," Fernandez said. "I think when you play for your country, it's a different sort of tension, sort of nerves. So for the Italians trying to win for the first time at home, their second Fed Cup title, the pressure is on them definitely more. When it's a final, it doesn't matter who is in the final, everybody feels the pressure of trying to win. Even though we're the underdogs, we'll feel it, too. It's an opportunity. So there's definitely pressure on both sides. From experience, when you're at home and you're the favorites, it definitely adds to it."

The Tennis Channel will provide live coverage of the final starting at 5 a.m. Eastern time tomorrow and continues on Sunday at 5 a.m.