The other last four encounter sees Germany host the Czech Republic in Stuttgart.

The US won their first Fed Cup since 2000 last year and are favourites to progress to another final at the Arena du Pays d'Aix. 

France, runners-up in 2016, will aim to delight their home crowd by springing a huge surprise with victory over the formidable American squad.

The tie begins with a clash between US Open winner Sloane Stephens and world number Pauline Parmentier, who has won just one of her last six Fed Cup rubbers.

French hopes then rest with Kristina Mladenovic, who faces Coco Vandeweghe in the second singles rubber of the tie.

Mladenovic will be key if France are to reach the final as the team's number one Caroline Garcia is unavailable.

The match could be over after the reverse singles contests on Sunday (April 22).

Should the tie be level, Mladenovic will team up with Amandine Hesse to face Madison Keys and Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the doubles.

"It was horribly painful to miss last year’s final and that win, so making it through would be very special for me," said Keys.

"Fed Cup tennis is all about the team. 

"I’m here whenever [captain] Kathy Rinaldi needs me, whether it’s subbing in for singles, play doubles, not play at all."

Petra Kvitová will hope to get the Czech Republic, who last won the competition in 2016, off to the best possible start when she plays against Julia Görges in the opening singles rubber at the Porsche Arena. 

Angelique Kerber is then scheduled to face Karolína Plíšková.

A doubles clash between Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Tatjana Maria of Germany and Katerina Siniakova and Barbora Strycova will break the tie if the two teams cannot be separated after the reverse singles matches.