( L - R ) Veronica Campbell-Brown, Allyson Felix

Megastars such as Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell will be missing but athlete's liaison, 1976 Olympic 200 metres champion Donald Quarrie, is still banking on some quality performances at this weekend's Jamaica International Invitational meet at the National Stadium.

Triple Olympic champion Bolt joined training partner and World Champion Blake and former world record holder Powell on the sidelines yesterday, after it was announced that the sprinter had suffered a hamstring strain while training last week.

"I am disappointed to miss the Kingston meet as I love running in front of my home crowd in Jamaica," Bolt stated via a press release issue by the athlete's manager Ricky Simms.

"I'm told it is only a Grade 1 strain so hopefully I will be OK soon," said Bolt.

While admitting that it will be blow not to have not only Bolt, but Blake, who suffered a hamstring injury at the UTech Classic earlier this month, Quarrie said the health of the athletes was the primary consideration.

"First of all I must say that I am sorry to hear about the injury and we hope the rest will give Usain and Yohan the opportunity to be ready to represent us at the National Trials and in later this year at the World Championships in Moscow," Quarrie told STAR Sports.

Despite the absence of the trio, Quarrie believes there will be plenty of quality sprinting on display at the meet and that hope has been encouraged by the confirmation of American champion Tyson Gay's participation.

"We have confirmed the participation of Tyson Gay in the 100m. We spoke to his agent and he says Tyson is in good shape. It is possible that we could see a 9.8 clocking. I think it will be a fantastic meet."

Quarrie pointed to what he expected to be other competitive races, which will include a showdown between Olympic silver medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Kerron Stewart and American Bianca Knight in the 200m.

Another big clash is expected in the women's 100m where sprint queen Veronica Campbell-Brown and American Allyson Felix will face off and the women's 100m hurdles where Melaine Walker will go up against against the 2008 gold medallist London Olympic silver medallist Dawn Harper of the USA.