Melbourne VIC, Australia, 24 February 2016 | AAP

Davis Cup rookie John Peers plans to use his detailed knowledge of the Bryan brothers to help Australia overcome the United States in Melbourne next week.

Peers is the only new face in the Australian line-up for the first-round tie, effectively replacing Lleyton Hewitt who has taken over as team captain.

Ranked world No.9 in doubles, he has been brought in to try to stop American twins Bob and Mike Bryan, so long a dominant force in men’s doubles with a record 16 Grand Slam titles.

As a regular rival of the pair, Peers said he knew the twins’ game well and had had mixed results over the past few years against them – the Bryans are currently ranked world No.5 and 6 in doubles.

“I feel confident against them,” Peers told SEN Radio from Dubai where he’s playing this week.

“I will know exactly what they want to do and they will know what I want to do.

“They’ve been unbelievable to stay at the top for so long but hopefully times are changing and we will be able to knock them off their perch.”

The 27-year-old Victorian caught Hewitt’s attention by reaching two major finals last year – at Wimbledon and the US Open – with Scottish partner Jamie Murray.

The pair split in November but played together for almost three years, reaching 16 finals and winning six ATP titles.

Peers is expected to partner Sam Groth in the Australian line-up; together they reached the quarterfinals at the Apia International Sydney in January.

Peers thought they had some “good chemistry” in their first outing together.

After leaving his American college Peers realised his body and game was more suited to doubles than singles and said he hadn’t looked back.

He was thrilled to be given a chance to play Davis Cup, particularly on grass at Kooyong which he grew up playing on.

“It’s a huge honour, especially playing in front of a home crowd,” Peers said.

“I grew up playing there so it’s one thing I’ve always dreamt of doing.”

It’s the first time in 10 years Kooyong has hosted a Davis Cup tie.