The Americans are gambling that the 10,000 Mohegan Casino arena located midway between Boston and New York will provide the perfect venue as they begin their quest for a 32nd Davis Cup title on February 6-8.

U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe has yet to announced his lineup but expects the team to be led by U.S. Open champion and world No. 1 Andy Roddick.

The backbone of recent American Davis Cup efforts, Roddick clinched the 3-2 victory over the Slovak Republic last September in the World Group playoff round.

"We know we're coming to a tennis hotbed, and look forward to the fans supporting our team," McEnroe told a news conference. "We have a nucleus of dedicated players including the world's number one in singles and doubles (identical twins Bob and Mike Bryan), who are committed to winning the cup this year."

The U.S. last played a Davis Cup match in Connecticut in 1987 when Hartford hosted a qualifying round tie against West Germany.

That match featured the epic six-hour, 21-minute duel between John McEnroe and Boris Becker, regarded as one of the greatest tennis matches of all time.

The United States and Austria have met on one previous occasion in the Davis Cup, the U.S. winning a semi-final clash 3-2 in Vienna in 1990.

Austria are expected to be led by world no. 53 Stefan Koubek, a three-times singles champion on the ATP tour.