GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC):

With first-round victories behind them, the Windward Islands and Jamaica yesterday prepared for their KFC clash at the Beausejour Cricket Ground here today.

Jamaica will go into the match with a psychological advantage, having picked up first innings points when the teams met in their Carib Beer Series four-day engagement at the weekend.

"We are definitely looking forward to winning here on Wednesday. We had the better of the Leewards in the first round and we want to keep that momentum going against the Windwards," Jamaica's coach Junior Bennett told CMC Sports.

He said he expected the Windwards to again be competitive and stressed his team would have to play good cricket to pull off victory.

"It's a high intensity game and we need to be at our best for the entire game. All our players are fit and hopefully we can put a good 11 together," Bennett added.

The Windwards, with victory over Guyana in the first round, will be without opening batsman Devon Smith and all rounder Darren Sammy.

Both were originally due to leave for India yesterday with the West Indies team, but the recurrence of a hamstring injury on the final day of the Carib Beer Series match Monday has forced Sammy out of the tour. He is also likely to miss the next round of matches in the Carib Beer Series and KFC Cup.

Batsman Alvin La Feuille replaces Smith, while fast bowler Mervin Matthews, a former West Indies Youth team player, comes in for Sammy.

Hoping to keep winning formula

"Although we did not play our best cricket in the Carib Beer Series against Jamaica we are hoping to keep our winning formula in the KFC Cup," Windwards coach Ian Allen said.

The former West Indies fast bowler said he felt his team could get over the disappointment of dropping first innings points against the Jamaicans and register their second consecutive win in the KFC Cup.

"We will have to adjust quickly and get in the frame of mind to playing limited overs cricket," he said.

SQUADS: JAMAICA - Wavell Hinds (captain), Tamar Lambert, Brenton Parchment, Danza Hyatt, Lorenzo Ingram, David Bernard Jr., Carlton Baugh Jr., Jermaine Lawson, Andre Dwyer, Nikita Miller, Andre Russell, Bevan Browne, Odean Browne, Jamie Trenchfield.

WINDWARDS - Rawle Lewis (captain), Alvin La Feuille, Junior Murray, Deighton Butler, Hyron Shallow, Dennis George, Andre Fletcher, Jean Paul, Heron Campbell, Liam Sebastien , Mervin Matthews, Kenroy Peters, Ronald Etienne, Miles Bascombe.