Fed Cup World Group Final 2013: Schedule, Prediction and Preview

The biggest annual team event in women's tennis is set to conclude this weekend as Italy and Russia compete to land the 2013 Fed Cup.

Both nations have navigated their way through to the final and will contest the four singles and one doubles match in Cagliari, Italy.

Seven of the past nine Fed Cups have been won by either Russia or Italy, though the Czech Republic have stalled their recent dominance by claiming the past two titles.

Here's a look ahead to the weekend's festivities.

Teams

Both teams have already been revealed in a topic of much controversy. Italy have named Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, as expected, with Karin Knapp and Flavia Pennetta named in the doubles.

However, Russia's lineup of Alexandra Panova and Irina Khromacheva in the singles, and Alisa Kleybanova paired with Margarita Gasparyan for the doubles, was far less anticipated.

As BBC Sport reports, a scheduling error has left none of Russia's top 11 declaring themselves available.

The final clashes with WTA's Tournament of Champions in Sofia, which rules many players out. Elsewhere, the likes of Maria Sharapova and Ekaterina Makarova are both injured, while Svetlana Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova no longer play Fed Cup tennis, per BBC Sport.

As a result, Russia's top ranked player will be Panova at 136, significantly below Italy's entire team, with Errani (7) and Vinci (13) both top 15 players.

Schedule

Saturday (from 1130 GMT)	Vinci	vs.	Panova
Saturday	Errani	vs.	Khromacheva
Sunday (from 0930 GMT)	Errani	vs.	Panova
Sunday	Vinci	vs.	Khromacheva
Sunday	Pennetta/Knapp	vs.	Kleybanova/Gasparyan

Russian captain, Shamil Tarpischev, has opted for the surprise factor, throwing 18-year-old Irina Khromacheva into the action.

Her ranking of 236 is lower than Kleybanova's (183), but the former Juniors finalist at Wimbledon seems destined for greater things. However, in facing such seasoned professionals in Errani and Vinci, her potential's in for a stern examination.

Prediction: Italy Win

Tarpischev has given Khromacheva a platform to announce herself, but that won't help Russia's plight.

Void of their top names, the four time champions are in line for a thumping at the hands of Errani and Vinci, who should dominate on home territory.

Any win the Russians can get will come as a major surprise, with a difference of over 150 ranking spots scheduled for every game.

By Sunday evening, expect Italy to be hoisting their fourth Fed Cup, and their first since 2010.