SYDNEY -- Nick Kyrgios says hes confident of being fit to lead Australia into its Davis Cup tie against Slovakia in Sydney starting Friday.Kyrgios hasnt played since a hip injury caused him to retire from his third-round match against Illya Marchenko at the U.S. Open nine days ago. But he says the hip is better now and hes playing probably the best tennis I have.The Australia No. 1 told a news conference Tuesday, I just got a niggling injury that came out of nowhere almost. I feel confident and I think we can do great things.Kyrgios will likely team with Bernard Tomic in singles and doubles for the first time since he made his Davis Cup debut three years ago.The Australians, who chose to play the tie on grass at Sydneys Olympic tennis center, must beat a depleted Slovakia team to retain their place in the 16-team World Group for 2017.Slovakia will be without its two highest-ranked players, Martin Klizan and Lukas Lacko. Custom Rams Jerseys .S. Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot he hit to a foot of the pin, and he stayed in front Tuesday until he completed a 4-under 67 for a two-shot lead over Jason Dufner in PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Cheap Rams Jerseys .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. http://www.customramsjersey.com/ .C. United of Major League Soccer. United chose the defender in the second round of the 2013 MLS re-entry draft. Wholesale Custom Rams Shirts . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. Custom Rams Jersey China . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. ST. LOUIS -- Coach Ken Hitchcock criticized the St. Louis Blues effort and focus in a 4-1 loss to Calgary on Tuesday night.If they dont improve both of those areas in a hurry, the results in Thursday nights home game against the Detroit Red Wings might not be much better.The Red Wings are coming into the game as one of the hottest teams in the NHL, having won five consecutive contests after losing their first two to start the season.Detroits most recent win came on Tuesday night at home, a 4-2 victory over Carolina that included the first two goals of the season from center Dylan Larkin.We have to keep going and we cant take the foot of the gas, Larkin told the Detroit News. We have a big test on the road in St. Louis, a good team, especially at home. We have to do the right things that have made us successful in the last five games.Hitchcock also will be looking for his team to do the right things, the parts of the game they didnt do well in the loss to the Flames.We didnt manage it (the puck) very well, Hitchcock said. We played sideways when we should have played with speed and gone north, and we played light on the boards when we could have really won some puck battles and played with a higher level of determination.St. Louis captain Alex Pietrangelo, said it will be up to the players to correct those mistakes if they want to a different outcome against the Redd Wings.ddddddddddddThe games when you dont seem to have it mentally, you have to find a way to win, he said.The Blues could get Jori Lehtera back in the lineup for Thursdays game, but instead of playing center, Hitchcock said there was a chance he could move to left wing and play on a line with Jaden Schwartz at center and Vladimir Tarasenko on right wing.Lehtera has missed the last four games while being treated for an apparent concussion.Left winger Justin Abdelkader could return for the Red Wings after missing the last two games because of a lower-body injury. Returning to St. Louis as a new member of the Red Wings will be center Steve Ott, who spent the last three years with the Blues before signing as a free agent in Detroit.One of the keys to the Red Wings recent success has been the ability to close out games, something they had trouble doing last season.Thats the biggest difference, coach Jeff Blashill told NHL.com. Weve done that so far this season. Weve done a good job of being able to score that extra goal if weve needed it. As Ive talked about, we were actually good defensively in the third period last year but we still gave up lots of leads because youre constantly playing with just a one-goal lead so its a big difference. ' ' '