Keothavong returns for Fed Cup

To gain promotion in this year's Fed Cup competition, Great Britain's women will have to finish top of their group which includes Austria and Bosnia, and then more likely face Belarus for a place in April's  promotional play-off to the World Group.

The British team of Elena Baltacha, Katie O'Brien, Sarah Borwell plus Anne Keothavong making her return to the top flight from a long injury lay-off dating back to the US Open, launch their campaign against Bosnia, allegedly the weakest team in the group, led by Mervana Jugic-Salkic, a former top-100 player currently ranked 340 in the world.

Austria could prove more of a problem with their No1 player Sybille Bammer, ranked 50 while Yvonne Meusburger is another former top-100 player.

Captain Nigel Sears admitted his team faced a tricky test but was optimistic, saying: "All the groups are tough - we have to accept now that whichever group we're in we have to beat a good team to get into the semi-finals.

"But we've got a very strong team too and we've also got a doubles specialist in Sarah Borwell who has played with Anne (Keothavong) a lot already and I think that's our trump card."

Keothavong, ranked in the top 50 before hit by injury, added: "I'm feeling a bit apprehensive about playing a match given the injury. I don't expect anything to be easy especially when you haven't competed for a while - you can't expect everything to switch on straight away but again I'm feeling good - I'm happy with where I'm at, at the moment - competing is my job and that is what I am looking forward to."

Last year GB lost 2-1 to Poland in the final-day play-off as they just missed out on progression.