Samantha Stosur in talks to play Fed Cup for Australia in 2018

SAM Stosur is set to rejoin the Australian Fed Cup team next year for a serious charge at making the nation’s first final since 1994.

Sam Stosur is considering a return to Fed Cup after taking 2017 off.

SAM Stosur is set to rejoin the Australian Fed Cup team next year for a serious charge at making the nation’s first final since 1994.

Stosur, 33, made herself unavailable for Fed Cup selection this year to free up her 2017 schedule, an objective ruined by a hand injury that sidelined her from Wimbledon and the US Open.

But with the Gold Coaster, ranked No. 41, one of three Australian women in the year-end top 50, the possibilities of success with Ash Barty, Daria Gavrilova and Casey Dellacqua is enticing.

Sam Stosur missed Fed Cup in 2017 to focus on the WTA Tour.

Stosur is stepping up training in Sydney under coach Josh Eagle for her summer campaign, which starts at the Brisbane International from December 31-January 7.

“I’d love to be a part of Fed Cup again — we have a fantastic team now and I’ll be talking to Alicia (Molik, the Australian captain),’’ Stosur told The Courier-Mail.

“We are working through a few things on how we can make it come together.

“I’ve thought about it (playing for Australia in 2018) all this year to be honest after I made the decision not to play this year. It’s difficult with scheduling to do it every single year.’’

Stosur’s inclusion to Fed Cup would be a boost for the team. Pic: AAP

Australia won the last of its seven Fed Cup titles in 1974 and Stosur’s best year in the competition was a semi-final elimination by Germany in 2015.

Australia is one of seven countries with three or more top-50 women, with the others being the US (six players), Germany, Russia and Czech Republic (five each) and France and China (three each).

Stosur is feeling in good health after her hand injury. Pic: Liam Kidston.

Stosur’s commitment to Fed Cup tennis over the years insulated her from any criticism within Australian tennis over her 2017 unavailability.

In February, the Ukraine, who can draw on world No. 6 Elina Svitolina, play a tie in Australia from February 10-11 in the first round of the world group competition.

Stosur played five WTA tournaments on her return from injury in September, winning three matches, the best being over former world No. 2 player Agnieszka Radwanska.

“That match in particular stood out because I felt I was back to almost the form I had before I was injured,’’ she said.

“It picked me up and gave me a boost. The season ended a match later but I know I still have it in me.

“I came home and practised for a couple of weeks. I had a holiday booked and I didn’t want to have another month off after missing all that time due to the injury.

“I feel refreshed. I have five more weeks of training and there is a lot of time to get ready to have a good tournament in Brisbane.’’

Originally published as Samantha Stosur in talks to play Fed Cup for Australia in 2018