BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

<>bLast year's beaten finalist Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago are faced with a must-win situation when they clash in the final preliminary round match of the TCL Group West Indies Challenge at Queens Park here today.

The match is considered a virtual final in Group 'B' ahead of tomorrow's grand finale at the Banks ground where the winner will either face defending champions Jamaica or hosts Barbados.

Still oozing in confidence following their comprehensive win over Leeward Islands, the Guyanese will certainly be put to the test against their old arch-rivals.

Rained out

Trinidad and Tobago's first match against Leeward Islands was rained out giving them two points, and they will have to win this match to stake a place in the final.

If the adverse weather, which has plagued the country in recent days continues and the match is abandoned, Guyana, with four points will qualify for the final.

Barbados, the newly crowned three-day kings, won their first game while in their second match, rain had the final say leaving them on six points.

JAMAICA vs WINDWARDS

Jamaica, who has two points from one abandoned game, must beat Windward Islands convin-cingly in today's other match, to qualify for the final. Barbados narrowly beat the Windwards in their Group 'A' match on Tuesday.

When Guyana and T&T met last year in St. Kitts, Guyana came away with a three-run victory.

And in the just concluded longer version of the game, Trinidad and Tobago gained first innings advantage in their drawn encounter with Guyana and this is expected to give them a psychological advantage.

Today's matches bowl off at 9:30 a.m.