Lleyton Hewitt has announced Australia’s Davis Cup team that will play the USA at Kooyong next week in the first match-up under his stewardship.

Australia’s new Davis Cup captain, who takes over from Wally Masur following his retirement last month, sprang a selection surprise with John Peers set to make his debut in the international teams event.

The 27-year-old will pair up with Sam Groth in the doubles tie, with firebrands Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic to feature in the singles.

They are expected to square up against John Isner and Jack Sock with the Bryan brothers to contest the doubles when USA captain Jim Courier confirms his team.

“Obviously (it’s) a massive opportunity for us against a really quality nation in the US,” Hewitt said, preparing for his first tie as a non-player since 1999.

“Playing at home as well — the spiritual home of Australian tennis here at Kooyong — and back on the grass.

“Everyone’s really excited, especially John getting his first call up into a Davis Cup team.

“He had a fantastic year last year on the doubles court and he can play some really good tennis in the next few weeks.”

It will be the 46th meeting between the two nations when play gets under way between the competition’s two most successful nations next Friday.

The Americans currently lead the ledger 32 to 28, with the winners to face the victors from Belgium’s match-up with Croatia in July’s quarter-finals.

Australia downed the USA 4-1 when the two countries last played at Kooyong in 1993, while Hewitt led the Aussies to victory in his Davis Cup debut when the two teams last met in 1999.

You’ll be able to catch all the action of the Davis Cup World Group clash on the big screen in the clubhouse when play gets under way from 11am Friday 4 March.