MOSCOW, April 25: Holders Russia should cruise into the Fed Cup final when they pit a line-up featuring three top-20 players against a US team devoid of big names at the weekend.

Even without Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova, the hosts, led by world number four Svetlana Kuznetsova, should still be too strong for the Americans, who are missing their three top players for the two-day semi-final.

US captain Zina Garrison will have to rely on a virtually unknown line-up of Vania King, Madison Brengle, Liezel Huber and Ahsha Rolle after former world number ones, Venus and Serena Williams and Lindsay Davenport, decided against making the trip.

Of the four, King is the highest ranked at 115th, while 18-year-old Brengle and former South African Liezel Huber, the world number one in doubles, will be making their Fed Cup debuts for the US on the red clay of Moscow’s Luzhniki arena.

“To be honest, we don’t know anything about this US team. I don’t even know if I had seen some of them play before,” said Kuznetsova after practising on Thursday with Elena Vesnina, at 44th, the lowest ranked player in the Russian team.

“We were told they are bringing a very weak team, but they will have nothing to lose, the pressure will be on us to win.”

Vesnina added: “It doesn’t matter if they are all low ranked. Once a year even the weakest player could give you a tough time, so we have to be on our guard.”

Russia captain Shamil Tarpishchev has warned his team, which also includes world number seven Anna Chakvetadze and number 14 Vera Zvonareva, against over-confidence.

“I think everyone has now written them (the United States) off. It could be a very dangerous position if we fall into this trap,” he told reporters. “So one thing we have to make sure is that we take our opponents seriously.”

Zvonareva was a late replacement for world number 17 Dinara Safina, who pulled out on Friday with a knee injury.

The Russians are aiming for their fourth Fed Cup triumph in the last five years.

China, led by world number 68 Peng Shuai and seeking their first final appearance, take on Spain in the weekend’s other semi-final at the indoor Beijing International tennis centre.

Also playing for China will be world number 42 Yan Zi, while Spain’s top-ranked player for the tie will be world number 76 Nuria LLagostera Vives.—Reuters