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Adjusting to the wintery conditions in Moscow will be Russia's main concern as they begin the defence of their Fed Cup title against China this weekend.

Captain Shamil Tarpishchev (pictured) has the luxury of relying on two top 10 players - Olympic champion Elena Dementieva and world number seven Svetlana Kuznetsova - to spearhead the Russian campaign as they target a fifth title in six years.

Even though the tie will take place on an indoor hardcourt, Tarpishchev hoped his players would not suffer any ill affects after being greeted by sub zero temperatures in Moscow having toiled in over 40 degrees Celsius at the Australian Open last week.

"My main concern is how we adapt from the heat of Melbourne to the cold and time difference of Moscow. If we do that, then we should have little problem," Tarpishchev said.

"We've been the world's best team for a number of years now, winning Fed Cup four times in the past five years, so we know what we're capable of."

His Chinese counterpart Zhang Qi has a more realistic goal for the tie after he was forced to travel to Russia without his number one player, Zheng Jie.

Zheng, ranked 20th, had to retire from her Australian Open fourth round match against Kuznetsova with a left wrist injury and lost her battle to regain fitness.

As a result, China will be relying on an understrength team of Yan Zi, Zhang Shuai and Sun Tian-tian to upset the formbook.

"We know that Russia is very strong, so we will focus more on improving ourselves through learning from them," the Chinese Tennis Association's deputy director Gao Shenyang said.

The contest in Moscow is one of four World Group ties taking place this weekend.

The United States will face Argentina, France host Italy and Spain travel to the Czech Republic.

The United States's chances of adding to their record 17 titles look slim this year since their top two players - world number one Serena Williams and her elder sister Venus - have both opted out of the tie in Arizona.

Captain Mary Joe-Fernandez instead has to rally a squad led by 75th-ranked Jill Craybas.

Australian Open giant-killer Carla Suarez Navarro, who stormed to the last eight at Melbourne Park after claiming the scalp of Venus Williams en route, will be hoping to capitalise on her run of form against the Czechs.

While Spain aim to extend their 2-0 record over the Czechs, Amelie Mauresmo and her French team mates will be gunning for revenge when they face Italy.

France hold a commanding 6-2 advantage over 2006 champions Italy but came off second best in each of their two previous meetings.

Reuters