By Mike Dickson for the Daily Mail
Published: 21:06 BST, 19 April 2019 | Updated: 21:08 BST, 19 April 2019
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Anne Keothavong has warned her players not to let the feisty behaviour of Kazakhstan's pocket battleship Yulia Putintseva distract them during this weekend's Fed Cup promotion playoff.
If yesterday's salvos in the media conferences are anything to go by we could be in for a combustible weekend, as players nerves are stretched inside the packed confines of the Copper Box at London's Olympic Park.
Putintseva, a 5' 4' ball of energy ranked 38, is the severest threat to the GB team's hopes of returning to the elite World Group level of the main team competition in women's tennis.
Heather Watson (left) and Katie Swan share a joke as Great Britain prepare to face Kazhakstan
Captain Anne Keothavong was a hands-on presence as she helped her charges prepare
After coming through the group stages during a surprisingly raucous week in Bath two months ago, Keothavong knows that Putintseva - renowned on tour for getting up opponent's noses - will test her team's composure.
SATURDAY - 1:30pm:
Jo Konta (46) v Zarina Dyas (107),
K. Boulter (86) v Y. Putintseva (38).
SUNDAY 12pm:
Konta v Putintseva,
Boulter v Diyas
Followed by doubles.
'We all know what she's like. But the players are professional, you know what's coming but it's important that they stay in their little own bubble and don't rise to her bait,' said the GB Captain.
'That's what's got her to where she is.
She's got tremendous character, a huge personality on the court.
But we've got fantastic competitors in the team who are capable of dealing