France have named a powerful line-up headed by top-10 stars Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for their looming Davis Cup first-round hosting of Australia.

An embarrassment of riches to choose from, French captain Arnaud Clement on Tuesday also included world No.19 Gilles Simon, claycourt specialist Gael Monfils and doubles anchor Julien Benneteau for the tie in La Roche-sur-Yon starting on January 31.

Australian captain Pat Rafter will announce his team later on Tuesday, but is set to include teenagers Nick Kyrgios, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Jordan Thompson as singles options to support Lleyton Hewitt and doubles specialist Chris Guccione.

Australia are making a long-awaited return to the World Group after seven years in regional playoffs, but are huge underdogs, moreso after losing Bernard Tomic to a hip injury.

Clement admits the French will enter the first-round tie as strong favourites but is refusing to underestimate Australia.

“It is not about the rankings. It is Davis Cup. It is France versus Australia. It is Lleyton Hewitt, it is Pat Rafter and some very talented young players,” he told AAP.

“The last time we played it was in a final for the Davis Cup.”

That was back in 2001 in Melbourne when Hewitt and Rafter lost the pivotal day-two doubles before an elbow injury prevented Rafter from backing up to contest the decisive reverse singles rubber.

Instead, Wayne Arthurs was thrown into the hot seat and lost to Nicolas Escude, ending the final in tears.