Five overseas-based players selected to represent Jamaica for the first time and three Under-17 representatives, have been included in Jamaica’s Under-20 women’s 18-member squad for their first-round World Cup qualifiers in Havana, Cuba, from October 21-25.

The squad, which was announced on Wednesday, will go into camp this afternoon and will train twice a day until the team leaves on Friday.

Jamaica will play a three-team qualifying tournament, which involves St Lucia and host Cuba, with the top-two teams progressing to the Caribbean final round set for December 5-12.

Jamaica will open their account against the St Lucians on October 23, before facing Cuba, in what is expected to be the group decider, on October 25.

National women’s teams co-ordinator, Vin Blaine, said despite having just one week to prepare, the team shouldn’t have much problems getting past this phase.

“For this round, two teams qualify and our aim is to top the zone. And I can safely say I don’t see St Lucia beating us… so it’s about Cuba and us,” he said.

The Harbour View coach continued that the inclusion of the overseas-based players have also improved the squad although they still need more time to really gel more with the local girls.

“These players have been here before, they came to the last two training camps, so it’s not as if I don’t know them,” Blaine said.

He added that over the week they will focus on organising the players tactically, despite some concerns of their physical condition.

The five overseas-based players named to the squad are Toriana Patterson, Shanyce Shaw, Marlo Sweatman, Garrian McKenzie and Lindsay Wong, while the three Under-17 players who made the cut are Excelsior’s Nicole Broderick, St Jago’s Khadija Shaw and Charlie Smith’s Shantel Bailey.

The rest of the squad reads: Khedine Salmon, Kalicia Walker, Sasalee Cooper, Shenika Williams, Renee Freeman, Shakira Ingram, Kedisha Cardoza, Trudi Carter, Latoya Duhaney and Mellissa Bryan.