THOUGH forced to make a few more adjustments to the Cup of Nations team, senior Reggae Girlz Assistant Coach Xavier Gilbert is hoping they can make what has already been a decent preparation run even better by putting on a good show down under.

For Gilbert, getting at least a point off hosts Spain, Australia, or Czech Republic is their minimal target while they seek to strengthen their defensive and offensive thrust ahead of a second FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance in Australia and New Zealand this summer.

That may seem a lofty ambition for a small country ranked 44th when compared to their more illustrious opponents ranked seventh, 12th, and 28th, respectively, who are all more cohesive as well as technically and tactically proficient.

“The main objective is to see where we are, as well as to look at different formations and tactics as we continue our preparation for the World Cup. Each opponent brings a different playing style in terms of how they attack and defend, and so it’s just for us to see how we manage and match up against them,” Gilbert told the Jamaica Observer.

“But still ,we are no pushovers. We have some quality of our own and so we should be competitive to at least take a point off one, or all three opponents. But our main focus heading in, again, is to see how well we do defensively and what we do both in possession as well as our movements off the ball,” he added.

Gilbert and other members of the local contingent are set to depart the island today to meet up with their overseas counterparts, including Tiffany Cameron and Kayla McKenna, who many previously knew as McCoy.

Both were brought in to replace Siobhan Wilson and Shania Hayles, due to injuries. Hayles was initially added as a replacement for Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, who pulled out for personal reasons.

The Girlz will open the Cup of Nations against number seven-ranked Spain on February 16 before facing 28th-ranked Czech Republic on February 19. They then close off against 12th-ranked hosts Australia on February 22.

“Yeah, we had to make some minor adjustments but everyone else is doing well ahead of the tournament. Obviously we have a plan and we are still hoping to execute that plan well,” Gilbert said.

“As you know, it’s a long flight but we have a capable team in place to deal with that. The players have also been briefed already in terms of how to take care of their bodies ahead of travel and how to deal with the long flight so we are all ready to go and even more excited to see how the ladies do in this tournament,” he noted.

While the tournament will play a crucial part in finalising their selections for the July 20 to August 20 World Cup, Gilbert said this doesn’t necessarily represent the end of the road for players seeking to impress the coaching staff headed by Lorne Donaldson.

The Girlz have been drawn in Group F alongside Brazil and France, with their third opponent for the global showpiece expected to come from the intercontinental play-offs also scheduled for this month.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a defining moment for players; then again, it could be depending on how well they perform. But, we’ll just continue the assessment as we look to finalise the best unit to represent Jamaica at the World Cup,” he said.

“There is another window for us to utilise in April and so we intend to give players every opportunity to make the squad. We have to give the JFF credit for ensuring that we capitalise on all the windows to look at players.

“They have given us tremendous support to ensure that we select the best players to represent Jamaica. Even this tournament, for them to make sure all things are in place and the players will travel premium in and of itself shows the level of support so, credit to them. It’s just for the players to make the most of it to get in,” Gilbert ended.