Lloyd believes that Murrays will be boosted by Henman's last hurrah

Henman will bring an end to his illustrious career after the three-day clash at the All England Club as Lloyd's men seek to leap back amongst the world's elite for the first time in four and a half years.

Lloyd said: "I think the Tim factor is going to have a very positive effect on the rest of the team. It has given them extra incentive to get fired up if that was ever needed for a World Group game.

"It would be anti-climactic if Tim's last match was anything but a win. There is that extra desire to send him off in the right way and I am sure everybody will produce the kind of tennis they are capable of."

Lloyd has named Andy Murray, his doubles specialist brother Jamie, and Jamie Baker in the provisional four-man team alongside Henman to face the Croatians, who were finalists in 2005.

And Lloyd is convinced Murray will be able to shoulder the burden of leading what will effectively, and certainly in World Group terms, become a one-man singles team until one of his team-mates makes a breakthrough.

Lloyd added: "Andy is a smart guy and he knows that with Greg Rusedski having already left and Tim leaving, he has got a huge responsibility next year and certainly in terms of Davis Cup.

"There is a chance for others to step up but at the moment it could be a year before they can push through. In the meantime Andy may go out having to get three points and carry the team but he is capable of doing that.

"I am confident about the future. I look back at when I first got involved and the team looked a little bit bare. Greg was still playing but he was battling injuries, Andy was still on his way up, and Jamie was a good doubles player.

"All of a sudden in the last six to nine months Andy has gone from a good player into a top 10 player, and Jamie has zoomed up the doubles rankings. So we have already had one big leap forward and I am sure there are more to come."

Meanwhile Lloyd admits he is wary of a Croatian line-up without shoulder injury victim Mario Ancic or 6ft 10ins Ivo Karlovic, who has reputedly pulled out after a dispute over money.

Ivan Ljubicic is joined in captain Goran Prpic's team by youngster Marin Cilic, ranked 117 in the world, along with the little known Rokan Karanuskic and doubles specialist Lovko Zovko.

But either absentee could be called into the squad until 48 hours before the match and Lloyd admitted: "I'm not buying their team. I still expect the big giant to be in the team and we have prepared for him.

"It was a difficult decision in some ways to play on grass given the Croatians' ability on it. But they are good on all surfaces, and the bottom line is that grass is the outdoor surface our players are most comfortable with."