THE task may be simple, but the stakes are high, very high.

That’s the scenario facing Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz when they open their Russia 2018 World Cup Finals campaign at the Third Round of the CONCACAF Qualifying phase in the first game of the two-way play-offs against Nicaragua inside the National Stadium at 8:00 pm today.

The Jamaicans, buoyed by their recent continued rise up the FIFA list to 52nd, and fresh from their historic run to the CONCACAF Gold Cup final where they were beaten 3-1 by regional kingpins Mexico, are firm favourites to establish a decent lead in their first-ever meeting with the Central Americans, ranked 139 on the FIFA Coca-Cola list.

The second leg is slated for the National Football Stadium in Managua, Nicaragua, at 8:30 pm (Jamaica time) next Tuesday, and will see the winner on aggregate advancing to the CONCACAF Semi-Final Round. If both teams score the same number of goals over the two matches, the goals scored away shall be counted as double (away goals rule).

If the same number of goals is scored away or both matches end without any goals being scored, extra time shall be played at the end of the second leg, then penalties if necessary.

So while the Boyz are favoured to win, the slightest mishap could ruin all that was done at the Copa America and the Gold Cup tournament, and therein lies the possible minefield.

But for Head Coach Winfried Schaefer, the signs are good.

“The players have good motivation, they have good spirit, everybody has more confidence than before about the tournament,” he told the Jamaica Observer, even as he lamented the absence of key players such as Wes Morgan, Jobi McAnuff, Garath McCleary and Jermaine Taylor.

The coach was also keen to see how his charges react in their new dispensation as favourites, rather than underdogs.

“We are in a new situation now, we are favourites and the players must be prepared for that mentally,” he added.

And having regard for the importance of gaining an advantage from as early as possible, Schaefer plans to have his charges attack from the off, employ a high press system and try to deny the quietly confident Nicaraguans any chance scoring a goal.

“We don’t want them to think that they can win the game. If we allow them to think that they can win the game then it becomes difficult and the crowd will turn on the team, so we will attack them from early and play aggressive in attack, aggressive in defence because we want goals,” the German said.

With goals being a priority, up to Wednesday night he was unsure whether to employ a 3-5-2 formation or a 4-4-2 formation, especially with Morgan being absent.

However, he did inform the Observer that there were about two positions, one in defence and one in midfield, to be filled.

At practice on Wednesday he tried Demar Phillips at left midfield, and Alvas Powell at right back, to accompany Michael Hector, who only days ago signed for Chelsea Football Club, and Adrian Mariappa in central defence, with Kemar Lawrence at left back.

Captain Rodolph Austin and Je-Vaughn Watson were the two holding midfielders, with Simon Dawkins at right midfield and Giles Barnes and Darren Mattocks in attack.

“Nobody should be satisfied from what happened at Gold Cup, saying we are a good team and we can play, no, no, we have to now work harder than in the Gold Cup, more than in the Copa (America), we have to be better than yesterday,” warned Schaefer, just in case the complacency rears its ugly head.

“I don’t want a player to give me 70 per cent against Nicaragua, we have to get 100 per cent, we have to have teamwork, good spirit, go out and fight together and then we can make a good result.

Meanwhile, Henry Duarte, the head coach of Nicaragua, has been exuding confidence since his arrival here Tuesday night.

“Jamaica is a highly rated team, but we are not daunted by the task ahead of us as at present. We are at a stage of rapid improvement and, as we grow from strength to strength therein lies the secret to defeat Jamaica,’ he said.

The Nicaraguans have been punching above their weight and have advanced to the CONCACAF Third Round for the first time in their history. In Round One they blanked Anguilla 8-0 on aggregate, and in Round Two, they got by Suriname 4-1 on aggregate.

“The team is growing in confidence, and the spirit is at a height to be fully committed as we have been preparing with diligence and conviction for the task that lies ahead. We surprised the mighty Suriname and beat them and with our steady improvement and attacking will, a similar thing can happen to Jamaica, as our forthrightness in attack is comparable to our defending,” the Costa Rican added.

But Duarte and his charges will have to walk the walk if they hope to take something positive from the game back to their artificial turf in Managua.