A top-of-the-table clash will ensue when Jamaica Franchise host the formidable Guyana Jaguars in the Regional Four-Day match at Sabina Park in Kingston, starting today at 10:00 am.

Guyana, who have amassed nine bonus batting points and 12 bowling points, lead the point standings with 57 points, despite suffering a loss earlier in the campaign.

Unbeaten Jamaica, so far gaining only two bonus batting points to go with nine bowling points, follow with 50.

Jamaica have been virtually invincible against Guyana on home soil, losing only once in the last 10 seasons, but on current form there is not much to separate the teams.

Esuan Crandon, the coach of Guyana, said he expects a tough battle.

“We know Jamaica are a very competitive team and they’ve done well over the past couple of years in the four-day competition. They have quality players in their squad so we recognise the importance of us winning the game and extending our lead atop the table,” he told the Jamaica Observer upon the squad’s arrival at the Norman Manley Airport on Wednesday.

Crandon praised the batting and the bowling units for accumulating the respective bonus points.

“Our batting has been clicking so far and obviously the bowlers have been doing a great job for us, picking up wickets,” the former Guyana pace bowler said.

Junior Bennett, the long-time Jamaica head coach, stressed the importance of getting more points than Guyana from the encounter.

“It is very important for us because they are seven points ahead of us and it’s a league format, so we have to get more points than our opponents for this game. We are looking to go out there and play four days of good cricket,” Bennett said.

The pitch at Sabina Park has been produced with a grassy top of late and has been known to offer spin bowlers plenty of turn and ample bounce.

The veteran coach acknowledged it will be an intriguing battle between the bowlers of both teams, stacked with quality spin bowlers.

“I think it is going to be a good cricket pitch and there will be something for the batsmen and for the bowlers. The Guyana team has quality spinners and they have been bowling fairly well. But we have played three matches at home and also in Trinidad, where the condition is similar to here,” he said.

Leg-spinner Odean Brown, recalled to the Jamaica 13-man squad after last playing in 2013, is likely to join fellow slow bowler Damion Jacobs in the eleven.

The other front-line bowlers in the Jamaica squad are pacers Marquino Mindley, Jason Dawes, David Bernard and left-armer Gavan Brown. The batsmen are openers Nkrumah Bonner and left-hander John Campbell, as well as Lambert, young West Indies player Jermaine Blackwood and Shacaya Thomas.

Carlton Baugh, who was dropped for the recent Nagico Super50 tournament, is expected to take his position behind the stumps. Horace Miller, Baugh’s replacement for the 50-over competition, is more known for his work with the bat and could play as a batsman only.

The Guyana 13 features veteran West Indies left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul, captain and rookie West Indies left-handed opener Leon Johnson, the experienced left-hander Narsingh Deonarine, silky top-order player Rajindra Chandrika and swashbuckling middle-order player Christopher Barnwell.

Their bowling unit comprises long-limbed pace bowler Ronsford Beaton, left-armer Raymon Reifer, wily leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo and slow left-arm orthodox bowler Veerasammy Permaul.