Murcia, Spain (My Sportsbook) - Reigning champion and heavy favorite Spain will host Israel in a Davis Cup semifinal this weekend, as the draw was announced on Thursday.

In Friday's opening singles rubber in the best-of-five affair, David Ferrer will face Israel's Harel Levy, while the second bout on Day 1 will pit former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero against the visitors' Dudi Sela.

Saturday's doubles will pit a Spanish tandem of Feliciano Lopez and Tommy Robredo against an Israeli duo of Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram, while Sunday's reverse singles currently call for Ferrer to face Sela and the former French Open champion Ferrero to take on Levy.

The matches will be played on red clay at Polaris World la Torre Golf Resort.

The champion Spaniards are captained by former French Open winner Albert Costa, while the upstart Israelis are led by Eyal Ran. Israel is competing in its first-ever Davis Cup semifinal.

The hosts will play without their former world No. 1 star Rafael Nadal, who has battled knee and abdominal injuries this summer.

Spain is 3-0 all-time versus Israel, with their last meeting coming in Ramat Hasharon in 1996 and the Spaniards prevailing 4-1.

Three-time champion Spain, which upset host Argentina in last year's final, has won its last 16 home ties.

The Spain-Israel winner will meet the Croatia-Czech Republic victor in the 2009 Davis Cup Final in the first week of December.