Australia's Alicia Molik and Mark Philippoussis will open this year's Hopman Cup in Perth on Saturday, facing a stiff test against a talented Russian outfit.

Molik and Philippoussis are looking to put injury and form woes behind them with a solid performance in the 19th staging of the mixed event, which has been hit by a series of high-profile withdrawals.

Both USA team members Taylor Dent and Venus Williams pulled out, while the German team also scratched last week after Nicolas Kiefer failed to overcome a wrist injury.

That leaves most interest focussed on the Australian pair, with Molik to take on the dangerous Nadia Petrova on Saturday morning, and Philippoussis due to face Dmitry Tursunov at the Burswood Dome.

Molik, who is attempting to battle back up the rankings after being struck down with a debilitating ear complaint in 2005, says she's feeling in better condition than when ranked world number eight.

Philippoussis is hoping to follow the lead of Andre Agassi by producing a climb back up the rankings, after picking the American legend's brains during his off-season program in Las Vegas.

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