Ash Barty has high hopes for the Australian team as they prepare to take on the Netherlands for a place in the Fed Cup World Group.

Ash Barty is ready to lead the Australian challenge when they take on the Netherlands for a place in the Fed Cup World Group at the weekend.

The play-off will take place on 21-22 April in Wollongong, with a spot in the elite eight-nation top tier at stake.

Barty will be the highest-ranked player on show at 18 in the world, while the Dutch are without their top four singles players, including the in-form world No.21 Kiki Bertens.

Sam Stosur returns for Australia after a two-year absence but Barty will be without friend and former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua, who announced her retirement last week.

“When Sam hasn’t been in the team for the last couple of years, I think Casey took on that role as the leader of the team,” said Barty.

“I think she will certainly be missed in this tie, on a personal note as well not having Case to have an afternoon coffee with and talk about some rubbish.”

The two teams met at the same stage of Fed Cup by BNP Paribas three years ago, with Bertens leading the Dutch to a 4-1 victory, a win that set them on the way to reaching the semifinals in 2016.