A venue will be decided next month in a match the 28-time champions must win to preserve their place at the top table of the premier international team event of men’s tennis.

Lleyton Hewitt’s team was beaten in the first round by the United States last March, and last won the competition in 2003 when the current captain and Mark Philippoussis inspired a 3-1 victory over Spain at Melbourne Park.

Slovakia are attempting to win promotion to the World Group from Europe/Africa zone and are likely to be spearheaded by world No.28 Martin Klizan, who is the nation’s only player with a top-100 ATP ranking.

Other former champions in the playoffs include Switzerland, who travel to Uzbekistan; Germany, who host Poland, and Spain, who are away to India.

In this year’s semi-finals, holders Britain are at home to Argentina in September while France travel to Croatia.

-AAP/Reuters