Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
JOHNSON
THE METTLE of Wendell Downswell's local players will be tested by a strong and hungry Guatemala team at the Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at 7:00 p.m. tonight.
Jamaica have decided to use mostly local-based talent.
However, the threat of Luton Shelton, with his pace and height, will provide ample practice for the Guatemalans, who have to deal with the qualifiers' leading goalscorer, Jared Borgetti of Mexico, in their next game.
Jamaica will also be likely to field some of their newest invitees. Desmond Breakenridge from Waterhouse could factor in coach Wendell Downswell's starting eleven, and so could Boys' Town's utility player, Oneil Thompson.
With a back-line that has no Claude Davis, the big central midfielder, will have a tussle with Breakenridge for the sweeper role, while young Jermaine Taylor should make the first eleven as a central defender.
Jermaine Johnson, who has returned to fitness, is also a likely starter.
Omar Daley, who did a competent job at right back in his last outing for the country could again have to do defensive duties, while Khari Stephenson should be the man for the central midfield
position.
In the absence of Robert Scarlett Garfield Reid is the obvious choice for the left-back position.
With midfielders in short supply, Lovel Palmer and Shane Crawford should tussle for one of the midfield positions.
QUESTION MARK
The other question mark will be who partners with Shelton, Fabian Dawkins is the man in form, scoring five goals in his last two games.
However, Christopher Nicholas' return to fitness and Teofore Bennett's availability make the battle for a start intense.
Guatemala, are in the midst of a battle for qualification to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Led by the goalscoring exploits of Carlos Ruiz, they have found themselves in the fourth and final qualification spot for CONCACAF teams.
As a matter of fact, a fourth-placed finish would only give them a play-off game against either Bahrain or Uzbekistan.
In order to maintain that position, the Guatemalans will have to ensure that they are match ready for their next two games, which are must-win situations, especially with Trinidad and Tobago only a point behind them on seven.
Their coach Ramon 'El Primitivo' Maradiaga, has realised that his team needs to do well against Mexico on October 8, and then against Costa Rica on the 12th.
With that in mind, the Jamaicans provide a good challenge, as the number three team in the region.
The last time the teams met - at the CONCACAF Gold tournament in the US almost two months ago Jamaica won in an interestingly contested 3-2 finish where Ruiz scored two goals and only just missed out on a hat-trick.
With the youth of Jamaica's back-line the battle between them and Ruiz could be mouth-watering.
