London, UK, 10 February 2015 | AP

Australia has drawn a winnable tie against the Netherlands to stay in the Fed Cup World Group for 2016.

After losing to Germany 4-1 in their quarterfinal earlier in the week Australia were forced into a playoff on 18-19 April.

While the tie is in the Netherlands, the country has no players in the world’s top 60, leaving Australia – the second seed in the play-offs – as the warm favourite.

The Netherlands will bid to reach the World Group for the first time since 1998 while Australia is attempting to maintain the place it has enjoyed since 2012.

Australia lead Fed Cup head-to-heads with the Dutch 8-1.

Meanwhile the US will have to beat Italy in Italy for the first time in 16 years to return to the top tier.

In other ties, Poland will play at home against Switzerland, and Canada will welcome Romania.

Led by Serena and Venus Williams, the US beat Argentina 4-1 in Buenos Aires last weekend to advance to the play-off round.

Italy, meanwhile, squandered a 2-0 lead and lost 3-2 to France in Genoa in the first round of the World Group.

Italy has dominated recent ties with the US, winning the 2009 and 2010 finals, and first-round ties in 2013 and last year.

The Americans’ record 17th and last Fed Cup title was in 2000.