POSSIBLE PERMUTATIONS FOR AUSTRALIA'S UNITED CUP HOPES

Nearly 12 months have passed since Australia's semi-final run at the United Cup, but they are inches away from elimination in the group stage for the second time in three editions.

The green and gold suffered a shock 2-1 defeat against Argentina in Group F's opening tie on Saturday, leaving Lleyton Hewitt's team with a mountain to climb in the hope of progression.

Although currently sitting bottom of the standings, the Aussies possess multiple pathways to qualify for the quarter-finals.

How Australia can qualify

If Australia produces a 3-0 clean sweep against Great Britain, they will move into outright first place and mathematically qualify for the quarter-finals.

In this scenario, despite all three nations having a tie win-loss record of 1-1, Australia will come out on top because the match win-loss record is the second method of determination.

If Australia defeats the Brits 2-1, then all three countries will be level on tie win-loss (1-1) and match win-loss (3-3).

At that point, set win percentage is the next tiebreak to separate the teams, with Australia currently possessing a low 33.33 per cent.

So, the best-case scenario for the host nation is conceding a three-set defeat and claiming two straight-set victories, which will increase their set win percentage to 53.80 per cent.

That will see Australia claim top spot in the group.

One straight sets victory for Great Britain and two straight-sets wins for Australia will see the European nation consolidate top spot by a margin of 3.84 per cent.

In the case Australia finishes second in the group, they will be forced to await results from other groups to determine if they have done enough to earn one of the two second-best-placed finishes across the six groups.

Expected matchups between Australia and Great Britain are as follows:

Alex de Minaur (No.9) v Billy Harris (No.124)

Olivia Gadecki (No.102) v Katie Boulter (No.24)

Matthew Ebden / Ellen Perez v Charles Broom / Katie Boulter

Australia will take on Great Britain on New Year's Day at Sydney's Ken Rosewall Arena, not before 5:30pm.