Tallawahs will open their home campaign in the 2016 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) against runaway leaders Guyana Amazon Warriors at Sabina Park today.

First ball is scheduled to be bowled at 8:00 pm.

With both sides teeming with talented and explosive players, the stage is set for riveting on-field action. If the players deliver, then it will complement the advertised party-style entertainment in front of an expected large spectator turnout.

The Tallawahs, mostly propelled by the batting of Captain Christopher Gayle, are third on five points from four games. They recorded respective wins over St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and Trinbago Knight Riders on the road, but faltered in a loss to the Amazon Warriors in Guyana before rain forced a no-result in a fixture away to Barbados Tridents.

The Amazon Warriors, captained by Martin Guptill, have been nothing short of superb so far. They have won five of their six games — including three of four at home — and lead with 10 points.

The Guyana franchise has been powered by all-round team performances, but the Australian batsman Chris Lynn — who represented the Tallawahs last season with meagre success — has been a major standout.

Current form aside, history is on the side of the Amazon Warriors.

Outside of the 2013 final, which saw the Tallawahs lifting the inaugural CPL crown, the Amazon Warriors have dominated clashes between the teams.

But the visitors’ skipper, who hailed the all-round effort from his team, played down entering the clash with an advantage.

“Everyone’s stood up when they’ve needed to, and I think that’s what has got us through so far this tournament. I don’t think there’s an advantage, I just think it’s always a great game when the Warriors play the Tallawahs…it always brings out the best in both sides, and hopefully that continues tomorrow,” New Zealander Guptill said during yesterday’s press conference.

Tallawahs Coach Paul Nixon says his players will need to make the most of the home advantage.

“The [home] games are very important, every game is a huge event. The Amazon Warriors have shown that they’ve had a fantastic record at their home ground, and we’ve got to emulate what they’ve achieved,” he told the media.

The Englishman, who was coach when the Tallawahs won the title, called on other players to step to the fore and lessen the burden on Gayle’s shoulders. In his only failure so far in four games, the Tallawahs lost.

“Chris has played outstandingly well. It was disappointing that the time when he failed the other guys didn’t come to the party. We’ve still got plenty of talent, and the top eight [batsmen] can be outstanding match winners,” Nixon said.

The Tallawahs will be boosted by the availability of Andre Russell. He was sidelined the previous two games — including the loss to Amazon Warriors — due to an injury to the back of his left knee.

“Andre is available for selection. He needed a week off, but we decided to give him 10 days off to make sure. He’s worked closely with the physiotherapist and the doctor and he’s in really great shape and looking forward to it,” the Tallawahs coach explained.

Roger Harper, the Amazon Warriors head coach, told the media that spirit in the camp is high, but suggested his team will not be carried away by the success so far.

“We’ve played some good cricket so far, the team is in very good spirits and we’re really looking forward to tomorrow’s game. It’s a new game, we start the game from scratch and we know we have to follow the process that brought us success.

“We’ve put in a lot of hard work, we’ve put a lot of thought into the way we go about things, so no [I’m not surprised by the start]. I think it’s just a result of that process that we followed right throughout,” Harper, the former West Indies player, said.