Tel Aviv, Israel -- (Sports Network) - Igor Andreev and Mikhail Youzhny will open play for Russia in singles action on Friday against Israel in the Davis Cup quarterfinals.

Russia captain Shamil Tarpischev decided to leave Marat Safin out of the opening singles, instead asking the two-time Grand Slam champ to play doubles with Igor Kunitsyn.

Andreev will meet Israel's Harel Levy in Friday's opening singles match and Youzhny will take on Dudi Sela in the second of the two rubbers.

Safin and Kunitsyn will face the Israeli tandem of Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram in Saturday's doubles action.

Tarpischev could still tap Safin for reverse singles action Sunday, which currently is scheduled to feature Andreev against Sela and Youzhny versus Levy.

Andreev is 9-6 all-time in Davis Cup singles play, but did not see action in Russia's 4-1 first-round win over Romania. He lost both singles matches, including the decisive fifth rubber to Juan Martin del Potro, in last year's semifinal setback to Argentina.

Youzhny beat Victor Hanescu in the first-round triumph against Romania back in March and owns a career Davis Cup singles record of 10-9. Safin has a mark of 21-15 in Davis Cup singles action, including a win over Victor Crivoli against Romania.

Levy is 17-11 in Davis Cup singles play, and his dramatic, 8-6 fifth-set win over Sweden's Andreas Vinciguerra in the deciding rubber sent Israel to a first-round, 3-2 victory.

Sela won both of his singles matches against Sweden and is 11-5 in Davis Cup singles play.

Most of Israel's Davis Cup ledger comes in zonal play, as this is Israel's second trip to the Davis Cup quarterfinals and first since losing to India in 1987. Russia, the 2006 champion, is gunning for a fifth straight trip to the Davis Cup semifinals.

Russia beat Israel in its only previous Davis Cup matchup back in the 1984 European Zone final.