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They are improving all the time. I like their bounce, energy and touchy-feely camaraderie. They are aiming to represent Britain at the Olympics and possibly qualify at the end of the year.

And at a time when many of the established international doubles stars of the last decade are surely nearing the end of the careers - Knowles, Nestor, Mirnyi, Paes, Zimonjic - the British pair, both 27, sense an opportunity to shoot for honours.

The cut for entries to London 2012 is likely to be very close to their combined ranking. Photo: Getty

"The top 10 is what we're aiming for," says Fleming. "As time goes on guys are going to get older and stop playing but we're not looking at it like that. We're trying to move up while they're still playing and we've had some wins which show we're capable of doing that."

But opposition on the ATP doubles tour can take many forms. At the recent event in Indian Wells, most of the top ten singles players were in the draw and Fleming and Hutchins lost a close first match to fellow Brits Andy and Jamie Murray.

"A couple of friends messaged me saying it must be annoying when these guys play," says Fleming, a graduate of Stirling University. "But I'm very much for it even though it makes it tougher for us to progress."

"It draws crowds, draws attention to doubles and the standard goes up" adds Hutchins, son of former GB player and coach Paul. "It's great for us to go head to head with them and see where we're at."

And of course there are the Olympics to look forward to. They hope. The cut for entries is likely to be perilously close to their combined ranking.

"We can only go on the ranking cut offs for the last two Olympics," says Hutchins. "And judging by that, we'd be in right now."

"You're allowed two teams per country [in a 32-team draw] and presuming Andy and Jamie play, we are right now the second team. We have to work very hard to defend the ranking points we made last year and be there on form and merit."

Just back from a long tour of the United States, Fleming and Hutchins will start favourites to win the doubles rubber on Saturday. Belgium - with their experienced singles players Olivier Rochus and Steve Darcis - are expected to edge the overall tie.

In the Tim Henman/Greg Rusedski days, when GB bounced between World Group first round and the play-offs, successive captains in David Lloyd and Roger Taylor cried out for a specialist doubles team. Or at least one other, to take some of the heat off the main men.

After they retired, the theory was different. Captains Jeremy Bates and John Lloyd preferred the option of two further singles players to compete for the second slot alongside Andy Murray.

Now, with Murray's involvement uncertain (although he has already committed to the next tie if it's a World Group play-off), Fleming and Hutchins are the first names on current captain Leon Smith's team sheet.

This is an important match at the end of an embarrassing week for the LTA when the Sport England

It's a major blow to those who have spent years claiming the game is growing in the UK and, with the LTA's funding cut as a result, a sharp reminder that no amount of spin or fancy figures can kid those who take a detached view.

Perhaps now the LTA will fully embrace the which has done superb work for years but has constantly found itself banging its charitable head against the gleaming Roehampton doors.

Campaigner Tony Hawks emails me today. Backed by politicians and Sport England, he says he plans to ask the LTA for funding to launch 88 Tennis For Free sites over four years. He fears they will turn this down.

If people turn up in Glasgow this weekend and get inspired by the likes of Fleming and Hutchins, they need to be able to get a taste for tennis at low cost, if possible no cost.

This is possible, if you go looking for it, but until the scheme is rolled out across the UK - with the LTA's backing and funding - the required participation increase to make us a serious tennis nation will surely never materialise.