Perth, Australia  - Dinara Safina will get a rare chance to team with her big brother Marat Safin as the pair lead favourite Russia into play at the Hopman Cup.

The eight-nation team event begins on Saturday with title prospect France (Gilles Simon, Alize Cornet) facing Taiwan. Russia goes into action on Sunday - pending Marat's last-minute arrival - with an opening tie against Italy.

Safina, ranked a career-high number four on the WTA, won four titles last season and played three other finals including the French Open against Ana Ivanovic and the Beijing Olympics against Elena Dementieva.

But with Safina and her brother barely crossing paths in tennis, this edition of Team Russia will be a special one. "I think it's been my dream to play with my brother at least one time," said Safina. "I hope it will be fun for us and fun for the crowd.

"I know that I can win one match here - and I hope he can also."

Safin, one of the characters of the sport, whose volatile game matches his sometimes-moody personality, rescinded a threat made last autumn to quit the game, returning for another season. He turns 29 later this month.

And, like her elder sibling, Safina admits that she also has a temper which can result in racket-smashing in tough moments. "Sometimes I cannot hold myself any more and I break them."

The job for Australia will be challenging when the hosts open on Monday against Germany.

Lleyton Hewitt makes a return from hip surgery as he plays his first match in five months, taking on Nicolas Kiefer. Teammate Casey Dellacqua, a Perth local playing the event for the first time, has also had her share of recent injury worries with a shoulder problem.

"I had a few problems at Wimbledon and it just didn't get better," said the number 53. I've been back on court and hitting a lot of balls.

"I'm just looking to play some competitive matches. I want to play tennis for a few more years," added the 23-year-old. "I just had so much pain when I was serving.

"I've changed a few things - I think for the better. It's coming along."

Hewitt, who became a father for the second time during December, was making a late arrival in Perth on Saturday to be ready for the Monday start.

But Dellacqua is looking forward to teaming with the two-time Grand Slam champion and one-time number one. "Every match for myself, and Lleyton, is going to be pretty tough. He's a fantastic champion.

"I can't wait to get out on the court and play with him."

Dellacqua will face German promise Sabine Lisicki, a 19-year-old ranked 57th. The Australian is hoping to repeat her giant-killing run at last year's Australian Open, with wins over Patty Schnyder and Amelie Mauresmo. (dpa)