Front-line spinner Nikita Miller believes that despite being relatively inexperienced Jamaica Franchise's bowling unit can put in the performances needed to defeat the Windward Islands Volcanoes in the first round of the West Indies Cricket Board Professional League.

The contest, which will bowl off today at Sabina Park, sees the Tamar Lambert-led Jamaicans boasting a squad of two uncapped fast bowlers, and a leg-spinner, who has four first-class matches to his name.

The pacers are recent West Indies Under-19 representative, Marquino Mindley, and the previously unheralded Keno Wallace, while the spinner is Damion Jacobs.

"It's a lot less experienced bowling unit we have than last year, which will require a lot of guidance from us the senior players," said Miller, who recently returned from Sri Lanka with the West Indies 'A' team.

"They are, however, some promising talents, and once we can get them to settle, I believe that they can make an impact."

Mindley and Wallace are expected to be in battle with another former West Indies Under-19 youth player, Jason Dawes, in the battle to see who will share the new ball with all-rounder David Bernard Jr.

The 25-year-old Dawes has in the past represented Jamaica and the Combined Campuses and Colleges at the regional level.

Miller, in the meanwhile, is set to have Jacobs as his spin partner, with batsmen Lambert and John Campbell, who bowls part-time off-spin, and Bonner, who bowls part-time leg-spin, being other slow bowling options.

Jamaica will enter the matchup without their front-line seam bowlers Jerome Taylor, Sheldon Cottrell and André Russell, as well as leg-spinner Odean Brown, due to varying reasons.

time off

Taylor has requested time off to deal with personal issues, Cottrell is reportedly injured, while Russell is in South African playing in their Twenty20 league.

The 32-year-old Brown, who did knee surgery last season has been overlooked by the Wavell Hinds-chaired national selection panel.

Jamaica squad: Tamar Lambert (captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood, Shacaya Thomas, Andre McCarthy, John Campbell, David Bernard Jr, Carlton Baugh Jr, Nikita Miller, Damion Jacobs, Keno Wallace, Marquino Mindley and Jason Dawes.

Windwards (from): Liam Sebastian (captain), Devon Smith, Johnson Charles, Tyrone Theophile, Keddy Lesporis, Romiel Currency, Sunil Ambris, Andre Fletcher, Lindon James, Mervin Mathew, Nelon Pascal, Kenroy Peters and Alstan Bobb.