Marlon Samuels - file

Traditional rivals Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago will today face off at Sabina Park in the penultimate set of matches of the first round of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Four-day Tournament.

The clash, which is slated to start at 10 a.m. each day, will see both going all out to recover from unfavourable finishes during last weekend's round of matches. The teams will also look to gather as much points as they can, given the fact that the top finishers in the first round will host one of the tournament's two semi-final matches.

Jamaica, in their last game at Chedwin Park, St Catherine, fell 13 runs short of first-innings honours against the CCC in a drawn encounter, while Trinidad and Tobago, after initially gaining first-innings points, went on to lose outright against the Leeward Islands in Port-of-Spain.

"Losing first innings to the CCC was a bitter pill to swallow. We have, however, put that behind us, and are now focused on Trinidad who, while missing a number of their regular starters, can be dangerous," said Lambert.

Jamaica lead the standings on 39 points, two more than the Trinidadians, and will again bank their hopes batting-wise on the in-form Marlon Samuels, who with 608 runs at an average of 86.85 continues to lead all batsman in the tournament.

The stroke-playing right-hander is expected to get good support from openers Danza Hyatt and Simon Jackson, who have been getting starts but are yet to score a century, captain Tamar Lambert, and Wavell Hinds, who top-scored with 74 against the CCC.

Taylor returns

As it relates to the team's bowling, much will be expected of the returning Taylor, who missed the team's last two games due to the death of his grandmother.

Taylor is expected to get good support from opening-ball partner Andrew Richardson, who was Jamaica's best bowler against the CCC with of four for 76, all-rounder David Bernard Jr, and leg-spinner Odean Brown, while not bowling at his best against the CCC, claimed four for 100.

Trinidad, in the meanwhile, who will be without Morton, will be looking to the in-form Ganga, who with an average of 75 is the third-highest in the championship.

He is expected to get good support from fellow batsmen Lendl Simmons, his brother Sherwin Ganga, Imran Khan and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin who, while not on top of their game, can make bowlers pay.

Fast bowler Rayad Emrit, who with 19 wickets is the tournament's third-highest wicket-taker, is expected to spearhead their bowling attack.

"Jamaica has been playing some good cricket. However, having lost to the CCC in their last game there should be a slight dent in their confidence," said Ganga in a recent interview.

"With this in mind, we will therefore be looking to capitalise on any opportunity that may present itself," he explained.