PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – An upbeat Trinidad & Tobago will leave here today for Barbados where they will face their perennial arch-rivals in the opening match of the West Indies Cricket Board Regional four-day tournament.

The team, described as a unit designed to win this year’s extended tournament, will clash with Barbados at the Police Sports Club starting Friday.

“The team is a well-balanced team and a mixture of youth and experience – an experienced seam attack, experienced and well-accomplished spinners, a talented top-order, solid middle-order but most importantly they are very focused, hungry and dedicated team led by Daren Ganga,” team manager Colin Borde said.

T&T have included three new faces in their line-up with batsman Justin Guillen, off-spinner Sunil Narine and fast bowler Atiba Alert poised to make their debut.

Borde said with the season this year having been expanded, the team possessed the mental toughness, physical fitness and will to win, that could make T&T champions.

“Team work and consistency will be the necessary ingredients to become regional champions,” he pointed out.

“We, as a team, understand the pride and commitment required to carry the Red, White and Black. We will do all that is necessary to honour the flag.”

National coach Kelvin Williams said he was quietly confident his charges would uphold their good recent record against Barbados.

In the last 15 matches between the two teams at all levels, T&T have defeated Barbados 11 times. In four-day action, T&T have won four of the last five meetings.

“I am satisfied with the batting line-up and we have a pretty good bowling attack,” the former hard-hitting all-rounder said.

“We are leaning towards the spinners to do the trick for us, since the opposition is not too comfortable against spin bowling.”

He backed the three new inclusions to do well in the tournament.

“Justin Guillen has played a lot of club cricket in Barbados, Sunil Narine has bowled well in the rain-affected trial matches, while fast bowler Atiba Alert is always pretty impressive with the ball. So I expect them to show their worth in the tournament,” Williams said.

The team rounded off their preparations with net and physical sessions at the Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday.

Squad – Daren Ganga (captain), Adrian Barath, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Justin Guillen, Sherwin Ganga, Gibran Mohammed, Rayad Emrit, Richard Kelly, Dave Mohammed, Amit Jaggernauth, Atiba Alert, Sunil Narine.