Sydney NSW, Australia, 13 September 2016 | AAP

Nick Kyrgios is optimistic about his chances of overcoming hip soreness to lead Australia in this week’s World Group Play-off against Slovakia in Sydney.

Kyrgios said “it means a lot” to be back on deck for his first Cup tie since last year’s quarterfinal win over Kazakhstan in Darwin.

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to play,” he said on Tuesday before a workout with Bernard Tomic on the drop-in grass court at Olympic Park.

“I feel ready. I’m playing probably the best tennis I have.”

A hip flexor injury cut short Kyrgios’s US Open campaign in New York, but the Australian No.1 said he should be fine in time for Friday’s opening singles rubber.

“I’ve hit twice since I’ve been here and been going for about an hour to an hour and a half so it’s feeling good and I’m feeling confident with it,” Kyrgios said.

“I just got a niggling injury that came out of nowhere almost. (But) I feel I’ve been going pretty well. I’ve been on the rise the whole year. I’ve been playing well. I feel confident and I think we can do great things.”

If he plays, Kyrgios and Tomic will reunite in Davis Cup for the first time since Kyrgios’s debut three years ago.

Kyrgios hailed Tomic one of his idols while growing up.

“He’s a great player, with great potential and doing great things,” Kyrgios said.

“It’s not only Bernard. Grothy (Sam Groth) has played some great Davis Cup ties. In Darwin, he pretty much saved me. And Peersy (John Peers) is one of the best doubles players in the world.

“It’s not me and Bernard. It’s the whole squad. It’s everyone involved. It means a lot to me being in this chair alongside these guys trying to get back into the World Group.”

Slovakian captain Miloslav Mecir has brought a depleted team to Australia devoid of the country’s top two singles players Martin Klizan and Lukas Lacko.

Australia must win to retain their place in the 16-team World Group for 2017.