Melbourne VIC, Australia, 9 February 2016 | tennis.com.au

Australia faces a tough battle as it attempts to return to the elite eight-nation Fed Cup World Group in 2017.

The Aussies defeated Slovakia 3-2 at the weekend in the first round of World Group II, ensuring its progression to a World Group Play-off tie on 16-17 April.

Australia’s opponent will be determined in a draw ceremony scheduled to take place in London on Tuesday 9 February at 11pm AEDT.

Tennis.com.au on Monday reported that Australia would face one of four nations who lost in the first round of World Group ties – Germany, Romania, Italy or Russia.

Yet with Australia overnight promoted to seeded status in the Play-off round – thanks to its impressive Fed Cup record over the past three years – the green-and-gold will now likely face a fellow winner of a World Group II first-round tie, rather than a losing World Group nation.

Australia could face either Belarus or USA – with the choice of venue decided by a coin toss – or an away tie against Spain.

Romania – a World Group nation in 2016 who lost to Czech Republic – still looms as a potential opponent, with the location of that tie also to be determined by a coin toss.

Australia fell out of the World Group when it lost a first-round tie to Germany this time last year, and then a subsequent Play-off tie against the Netherlands.