Venus and Serena Williams will not be representing the United States at next month's Fed Cup quarter-final.

Bethanie Mattek, Liezel Huber, Jill Craybas and Melanie Oudin will be the quartet in the American team with the Williams sisters opting out with no reasons given as yet.

US captain Mary Joe Fernandez has confirmed her quartet for the best-of-five tie, which is scheduled to take place from February 7-8 in Surprise, Arizona.

"I am really excited about the team we are bringing to Surprise to begin our pursuit of the 2009 Fed Cup title," Fernandez said.

"We have a great mix of experience with Jill and Liezel, and youth with Bethanie and Melanie."

Venus and Serena Williams, the top two American players, were again notable absentees on the nomination list.

No reason has been given as to why the Williams sisters will not be participating, but the siblings are known for limiting their playing schedule and have not taken part in the event since 2007.

Serena Williams is currently attempting to win her 10th grand slam title at the Australian Open.

That means Mattek, 23, will be the highest-ranked player (38th) on a US team that has not won the Fed Cup title since 2000.

The 32-year-old Huber is established, however, as she makes up one half of the world's top-ranked doubles team along with Zimbabwe's Cara Black.

Craybas, 34, owns a 2-4 career record in Fed Cup play and the 17-year-old Oudin will be making her debut in the competition.

Argentina will counter with Gisela Dulko, Betina Jozami, Soledad Esperon and Aranza Salut.

Two-time defending champions Russia face China in the quarters, and the team boast a formidable roster once again with Dementieva, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anna Chakvetadze and Alisa Kleybanova.

Amelie Mauresmo is included in France's team to entertain Italy, while Australian Open quarter-finalist Carla Suarez Navarro will lead Spain's bid to overcome the Czech Republic in Brno.

In World Group II, current world number one Jelena Jankovic and French Open champion Ana Ivanovic will both play for Serbia in their home tie with Japan.