Melbourne VIC, Australia, 21 September 2017 | Reuters

Australia will kick off their 2017 Davis Cup campaign by hosting Germany in February, which could see a battle between young guns Nick Kyrgios and Alexander Zverev take centre stage.

After a semifinal loss to Belgium in Brussels, where Australia lost both reverse singles rubbers after leading the tie 2-1, the match against Germany looms as a chance for redemption.

Still, getting a win over the Germans, should the visitors be fit and firing, won’t be easy.

They will most likely be spearheaded by 20-year-old world No.4 Zverev and his world No.27 brother Mischa as well as veteran Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Germany currently has seven players ranked inside the top 100.

The potential match-up between Kyrgios and Zverev could produce a tight contest with the duo playing three times in 2017. The Aussie twice came out on top.

Wednesday’s draw handed this year’s finalists France and Belgium, who face off in Lille in November, home ties against Netherlands and Hungary respectively, courtesy of a new rule that allows the previous year’s finalists choice of venue.

Five-times Davis Cup champions Spain will host Britain in the first round of the 2018 competition, which could be a blockbuster.

In those ties – which take place from 2-4 February, less than a week after the Australian Open – it is unclear whether world No.1 Rafael Nadal or the man he replaced at the top of the rankings, Murray, will be available.

2018 Davis Cup World Group

First-round ties, home team listed first

Australia v Germany
France v Netherlands
Japan v Italy
Spain v Britain
Kazakhstan v Switzerland
Croatia v Canada
Serbia v USA
Belgium v Hungary