Ryder Cup 2014: Paul McGinley seeks to clinch European victory

European captain Paul McGinley warned his players against complacency as he packed his singles order with strength in the hope of winning the four points needed to retain the Ryder Cup.

McGinley's side lead 10-6 after a commanding penultimate session and the Irishman is keen to maintain the momentum as they chase a third straight win against the USA.

Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Stephen Gallacher and Martin Kaymer make up Europe's top six.

Thomas Bjorn, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Jamie Donaldson and Lee Westwood will follow with French debutant Victor Dubuisson in the anchor role.

The Europeans are mindful that they came back from the same scoreline in a remarkable fightback at Medinah two years ago, while the Americans also hit back from 10-6 down at Brookline in 1999.

"It's important we don't concede momentum," said McGinley. "Hopefully, with the players I have in there that won't happen."

McGinley said his invitation to Sir Alex Ferguson to speak to the team earlier in the week was to designed to drum home the need to fight against complacency and handle being favourites at home.

And he revealed he had Northern Ireland's former US Open champion McDowell pencilled in as his lead-off man even before he got the job as captain.

"I never changed my mind and never shared it with anybody," said the Irishman, who holed the winning putt as a player in the 2002.

"There are a number of reasons: big heart, big player, loves the big occasion. You need a real fighter in that first game. That sets the tone for the day. That's the guy that goes in with the hard tackle, the first hard tackle in a soccer match."

US captain Tom Watson has selected two of his rookies first, in 21-year-old Jordan Spieth and 24-year-old Patrick Reed, who won 2½ points from their three matches together, followed by 25-year-old Rickie Fowler.

"If they can turn the tide right there, it would give us a boost that the rest of the team can handle," said Watson.

"I have an innate trust in my players that they can get it done. We've got to smoke 'em. We've to take them out early."

Hunter Mahan, who lost the decisive singles match to McDowell at Celtic Manor in 2010, will take on Rose, who has won 3½ points out of four matches at Gleneagles.

Veteran Mickelson, 44, playing in his 10th Ryder Cup, will play Scottish debutant Gallacher, who has only played one match this week, and two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson will face US Open champion Kaymer.

Jim Furyk, Webb Simpson, Keegan Bradley and Jimmy Walker make up the middle order, with Zach Johnson playing Dubuisson, who has won both his matches in Scotland.

"That's a strong American line-up," added McGinley. "Some young blood up the front there and they are going to be hungry to make a reputation for themselves on away soil, just like we were in Medinah two years ago. This is far from over."