Canada's Daniel Tannous (left) battles with Daniel Varela of Costa Rica during their CONCACAF Group B World Cup qualifier on Monday. Looking on is Costa Rica's Marcos Urena. The game ended 0-0. - Ricardo Maky/Staff Photographer

Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

JAMAICA'S NATIONAL Under-17 footballers face a mammoth task in their quest for World Cup glory when they tackle favourites Costa Rica at 7:00 tonight at the National Stadium.

In the curtainraiser at 5:00 p.m., it will be a clash of the North Americans as Canada take on the United States.

Host country Jamaica, coming off an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Canada, will have to step up another gear or two to really kick start their campaign.

Jamaica from one game are currently lying in fourth position without a point but ahead of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) only on goal difference.

Jamaica's coach, David Hunt, told The Gleaner that his players had bounced back mentally from the opening game debacle.

"The players are in a positive mood and are looking forward to the game. We are not putting any pressure on them, just asking them to be a little more aggressive and much more positive," said Hunt.

Captain Dever Orgill will have to lead from the front along with Andre Steele, while John Ross Doyley, Christopher Banner, Dam-aine Thompson, Adrian Christian and company will have to step up big time.

Costa Rica, on four points, have been the most impressive team on display so far, and will prove a handful for the home team. They defeated T&T 2-0 quite comfortably and were all over Canada on Monday in a 0-0 stalemate.

The likes of captain Roy Smith, Diego Brenes, David Guzman, the impressive Jorge Castro and Marcos Urena will be looking for another win to basically secure their World Cup berth.

Meanwhile, Canada, on four points, will try to hold off an impressive U.S team on three points.

On Monday, Canada did just enough to secure a point against Costa Rica and probably will want to do the same today.

The U.S., led by two goals by Alexander Nimo in the second and 62nd minutes, and Ellis McLoughin in the 38th, easily defeated T&T 3-0.

But coach John Hackworth thinks his team will have its hands full containing an efficient Canadian outfit.

"Canada have been very impressive so far. I think they probably played the best game of the tournament against Jamaica," said Hackworth.

"They played two games, haven't given up a goal and extremely organised and we will have to increase our game to get a good result against them," he said.

STANDINGS

TEAMS	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PtS
Canada	2	1	1	0	3	0	+3	4
Costa Rica	2	1	1	0	2	0	+2	4
U.S.	1	1	0	0	3	0	+3	3
Jamaica	1	0	0	1	0	3	-3	0
T&T	2	0	0	2	0	5	-5	0