Though still in assessment mode, Head Coach Lorne Donaldson expressed intentions to throw the full weight of his senior Reggae Girlz team at Paraguay to kick-start their two-match friendly international series at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall today.

Kick-off is 8:00 pm.

With the games being used to amplify preparations for next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Donaldson is aiming to do so in winning fashion, as the Girlz will be on home soil for the first time since securing a second-consecutive berth to the global showpiece.

Despite asked to consider the minutes of his more prolific players, the tactician doesn’t foresee any real issues where rotation in his 42nd-ranked team is concerned.

In fact, he welcomes the opportunity to throw a few young and returning players in action to test their state of readiness against the 51st-ranked South Americans and, by extension, put themselves in contention for selection to the final squad.

“Every game we play has meaning, but these games are more important because it not only gives Jamaican fans another opportunity to see the Girlz at home, but they are also the first step towards upping our tempo for the World Cup,” Donaldson told the Jamaica Observer.

“Obviously we want to start with a win but some of our players are going to be on restricted minutes, players like Jody [Brown] comes in after a game and will have a game as soon as she gets back to school and Bunny [Khadija Shaw] and others will also be on the watch.

“We want them healthy and the club wants them healthy so we have to make sure that while we play to win we are careful with the players. Once we get to the World Cup there is no restriction but as it is right now we have to take our time with them,” he added.

While confident, Donaldson is by no means grandstanding against Paraguay, as he remembers fondly their previous meeting at the 2019 Pan American Games which ended 3-1 in favour of the South Americans. Paraguay topped that group which also involved Colombia and Mexico.

Suffice to say the then Girlz squad led by Hue Menzies, with Donaldson as an assistant, was missing a number of its proverbial big guns, chief among them talismanic striker Shaw.

Still, Marcello Frigerio’s side is not expected to cower, as a solid performance against a more formidable Girlz outfit would do their confidence a world of good for next year’s intercontinental play-offs where their quest for their maiden World Cup debut continues.

“Both teams would have improved significantly since then and so it should be another interesting contest.

“They are preparing hard for some very important games next year, so they are going to come guns blazing and they won’t have any restriction in minutes because they know they have to get themselves ready for that tournament,” Donaldson continued in his assessment.

Paraguay’s last two friendlies against Colombia ended in 0-1 and 0-4 losses, while the Girlz are aiming to bounce back from 0-1 and 0-2 defeats to 18th-ranked South Korea.

Defender Veronica Riveros at 35, represents the most experienced player in the South Americans squad led by Captain Fanny Godoy, who plays professionally in Spain. They, along with Sevilla’s striker Jessica Martinez, are expected to do most of the work to deny the Jamaicans.

However, Donaldson pointed out that his side his ready to give a good a good showing.

“We are going to look at a few things and go from there. We haven’t had a lot of time to go over making changes, our players are coming from all over the place and so we can’t kill them in the sessions,” he said ahead of what was expected to be a light evening session at the match venue on Wednesday.

“Hopefully, our experience will come to the fore and they show their true colours. We expect them to do that actually, they look lively so far and I think everybody wants to get a game in,” Donaldson noted.

The initial 26-member squad named by Donaldson and his assistants Xavier Gilbert and Ak Lakhani has been narrowed down to 25 as Trudi Carter and new invitee Zoe Matthews didn’t make the trip due to injuries.

However, Malikae Dayes was brought in as one replacement. Dayes and her twin Mikayla were involved in the first phase of qualifying in Grenada.

“I’m more disappointed with Zoe Matthews because she is a young and upcoming player and I would have loved to see her but the pool is deep so there are other players we can look at.

“Malikae is one of them, I have watched her and I think very highly of her because she is athletic and is also comfortable with the ball. So we are going to bring her in and try to look at her. I thought she is a good solid centre back to bring in because we have to make it competitive,” Donaldson shared.

While yet to confirm a starting 11, indications are that it will be one at full force.

Should that be the case then Rebecca Spencer is expected to be between the sticks, shadowed by Allyson Swaby and Satara Murray, flanked by Deneisha Blackwood on the left and Tiernny Wiltshire on the right.

Havana Solaun, Drew Spence and Shania Hayles could be tasked with midfield duties, while Shaw could be partnered by Tiffany Cameron and the returning Cheyna Mathews up front.

This as a result of Carter’s absence, while Brown, who is scheduled to arrive later today, will be rested for Sunday’s second fixture at the National Stadium.

Squad: Allyson Swaby, Atlanta Primus, Drew Spence, Kayla McCoy, Liya Brooks, Paige Bailey Gayle, Rebecca Spencer, Siobhan Wilson, Chinyelu Asher, Shania Hayles, Tiffany Cameron, Rachel Jones, Havana Solaun, Satara Murray, Sydney Schneider, Tiernny Wiltshire, Cheyna Mathews, Deneisha Blackwood, Chantelle Swaby, Khadija Shaw, Malikae Dayes, Vyan Sampson, Konya Plummer, Shaneil Buckley, Jody Brown