Serena Williams will lead the United States in their Fed Cup World Group-II tie against Victoria Azarenka-led Belarus in Massachusetts this weekend, with elder sister Venus scheduled to play only doubles.

In the draw made on Friday, US captain Mary Joe Fernandez inserted 38th-ranked Christina McHale as her No.2 singles player. McHale will have the daunting task of opening the best-of-five match tie against Azarenka, whose Australian Open triumph lifted her to world No.1.

“Christina is very match-fit,” Fernandez said. “She had a great Australian Open and is very prepared and ready to go. Venus has had a great week of practice as well, but I think Christina has been playing a lot more.”

Azarenka said she wouldn’t take McHale lightly.

“I think she’s a very good player,” said Azarenka, who thrashed Maria Sharapova 6-3 6-0 in the Australian Open final to claim her first grand slam title.

“She has a lot of motivation playing in front of the home crowd. She’s had some good results, played some good matches against top players and had a few big wins, so she’s a dangerous opponent.”

Venus Williams is a seven-time grand slam champion, but hasn’t played since pulling out of the US Open, when she announced she had been diagnosed with the auto-immune disorder Sjogren Syndrome.

Serena Williams will play the second singles match on Saturday against 97th-ranked Olga Govortsova.

Serena and Azarenka will then clash in the reverse singles.

The winners of the World Group-II tie will advance to the World Group playoff for a chance to reach the elite group and compete for the Fed Cup title in 2013.

The United States has been a record 17-time Fed Cup champion and is playing in the World Group-II for the first time.

Belarus is trying to get beyond the World Group-II for the first time.