Jamaica Scorpions and Barbados Pride are both eager to put inconsistent form behind them when the teams clash in the third-round regional four-day match at Sabina Park in Kingston, starting Wednesday.

The Jermaine Blackwood-captained Scorpions, who are third on the eight-team table with 24.4 points, recovered from their first-round nine-wicket defeat to leaders Windward Islands Volcanoes (42.4 points) two weeks ago, to beat cellar team Combined Campuses and Colleges (9.6 points) by 10 wickets at Sabina Park last week.

The fifth-placed Pride (22.8 points) began their campaign with a nine-wicket victory over Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) at Chedwin Park. But last week they were knocked from their high, losing by nine wickets to the impressive Volcanoes at Kensington Park.

Scorpions Head Coach Andrew Richardson expressed confidence of victory against the Pride, who are led by West Indies Test Captain Kraigg Brathwaite.

“It is the goal of ours to come out on top,” he told the Jamaica Observer on the eve of the match.

“We know the Bajan team has a lot of players that have played at the highest level and have performed at the highest level. We respect our opponents but we do not fear our opponents. We put our plans in place, so it’s just a matter of us coming out and executing those plans.”

He conceded that the Scorpions’ batting unit has been a weak link.

“I will continue to say that as long as we bat properly, especially in the first innings — if we are able to bat 90 overs or more and set the game up how we want to then I know that we have the bowling to take 20 wickets to win the game. I still stand by that, as long as our batting comes to the party we will do the job,” Richardson, the former Jamaica fast bowler, said.

Against the Volcanoes, the Scorpions could only muster scores of 159 and 234. However, a week later they were able to push for victory against CCC after scoring 331 on the back of a solid opening stand of 169 between Chadwick Walton, who crafted a fantastic 163, and Carlos Brown (48).

The Scorpions coach said the top-order input could again be pivotal.

“We know the responsibility that our top three batters have. Our opening pair certainly gave us the foundation that we were looking for against CCC. With this batting line-up, as long as we get a good foundation, then we can continue to post challenging and winning scores. The guys that are in the top three have a massive responsibility to set a foundation for us to build on,” he explained.

Pride Head Coach Vasbert Drakes told the Observer he expects his team to bounce back from last week’s disappointment.

“In the last game, we were behind the eighth ball as it relates to competing with the opposition. A lot of learning would have taken place — we didn’t play the situations well enough, so coming into this game we know what is required if we want to move up the ladder.

“We have some individual players who know they’re better than their performances reflected in the last game, so I’m really excited and looking forward to the competition [against the Scorpions],” he said ahead of practice at Sabina Park on Tuesday.

For Drakes, a former Barbados and West Indies pacer, an intriguing contest is on the cards, heightened by the forecast of wet weather in sections of Jamaica this week.

“Traditionally, this is one of the most anticipated games in the competition, and I don’t think that has changed. Jamaica has some really good cricketers in their line-up so we’re looking to see how the first day pans out. We see the overcast conditions and obviously, the wicket looks to have a bit of moisture in it,” he said.

The Scorpions were forced to make two changes to their 13-man squad, both due to injury.

Pacer Marquino Mindley and batsman Nkrumah Bonner are replaced by Derval Green and Leroy Lugg, respectively.

The other teams in the tournament are Leeward Islands Hurricanes (25.8 points), Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (23.2), Cricket West Indies Academy (19.4), and title holders Guyana Harpy Eagles (10.4).

Squads: Scorpions — Jermaine Blackwood (captain), Carlos Brown, Chadwick Walton, Kirk McKenzie, Leroy Lugg, Abhijai Mansingh, Romaine Morris, Peat Salmon, Derval Green, Gordon Bryan, Ojay Shields, Jeavor Royal, Ramaal Lewis.

Pride — Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Shaquille Cumberbatch, Shane Moseley, Zachary McCaskie, Kevin Wickham, Shane Dowrich, Jomel Warrican, Akeem Jordan, Jair McAllister, Chaim-Alexis Holder, Chemar Holder, Jonathan Drakes, Roshon Primus.

— Sanjay Myers

ROUND THREE SCHEDULE (February 21-24)

•Scorpions vs Pride at Sabina Park

•Volcanoes vs CCC at Chedwin Park

•Hurricanes vs Red Force at Warner Park

•CWI Academy vs Harpy Eagles at Coolidge Ground