Andy Murray is being backed to tough his way through another punishing three match schedule by his Davis Cup captain and fellow Scot Leon Smith.

The world number two will open the semi-final tie against Argentina with a re-match of last month’s Olympic final against Juan Martin del Potro and is then listed to play doubles with brother Jamie on Saturday as well as Sunday’s reverse singles on the back of an exhausting summer that has seen also him reclaim the Wimbledon title.

Murray underwent a different type of emotion sapping experience with a shock US Open quarter-final exit to Japan’s Kei Nishikori last week, while he also took time out of the camp to be with family yesterday ahead of grandfather Gordon Murray’s funeral which brother Jamie will be able to attend today.

However he has previously shown near super-human resilience as Smith noted.

“Look, we saw last year, on a couple of occasions, namely if you look at the semi-final against Australia, you could see that Andy was fatigued, actually maybe more physically than mentally and he still found a way to do it,” said the team captain.

“He’s a very, very robust guy, both physically and mentally. So as much as it’s very, very difficult, don’t be surprised to see him do it.”

With Kyle Edmund getting the nod ahead of the higher ranked Dan Evans as the second singles player, Smith has better options than ever before but he is still counting on his main man to carry most of the burden.

“It’s always a big ask, but we do have four players who can come in an out and change permutations,” he said.

“Clearly the intention is to have Andy and Jamie play doubles and they play great together. Obviously they will thrive playing in a home environment as well.”

Murray’s respect for del Potro, the former US Open champion who was once ranked as high as fourth in the world before he suffered career threatening wrist problems that resulted in surgery, is obvious.

He is consequently anticipating another epic clash following their pulsating four set encounter which swung both ways before Murray held onto the title he won in London four years earlier.

“We obviously had a great battle in Rio,” said Murray.

“Four hours, lots of ups and downs, a lot of momentum shifts, it was mentally and physically a very draining match.

“Both of us were pretty tired afterwards and emotional. That showed in how we were right after the final point, but it will be another intense atmosphere here and I'm looking forward to it.”

Smith meanwhile admitted it had been a tough call between Edmund and Evans for the second singles slot.

“It’s a difficult choice because Kyle and Dan are both playing great tennis, they are pretty much neck a neck in the rankings,” he observed.

“They both have pretty good Davis Cup experience now. It was not a question of picking one and not the other, it was a question of looking how we go across the three days which was important.

“I just felt that’s how I wanted to start.”

Daniel Orsanic, Smith’s Argentine counterpart, also defied the rankings in opting to send Guido Pella into opening day action against Edmund since he is currently eight places below team-mate Federico Delbonis, the world no.41.

He, too, claimed to be looking at the best way of exercising his options across the three days.

“I think each of them are capable of beating (Kyle) Edmund but we chose Guido,” he said.

“He adapted really well to the surface, he is in good form to face that second match.”