Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

Simone Forbes ... captain of the Sunshine Girls. - File

Defending champions Jamaica will start their defence of the Americas Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA) Caribbean title, when they face St. Lucia at Arnos Vale stadium in St. Vincent and the Grenadines today starting at 5:45 p.m.

In the day's other games, the hosts will entertain Canada and Barbados oppose Trinidad and Tobago.

Connie Francis, coach of the Sunshine Girls, said she is very optimistic of her team's chances.

"We are very confident," said Francis.

"However, we are not underestimating our opposition because we know that they will be coming out very strongly against us," she said.

Some senior players out

The Jamaicans will also have to do without a number of senior players who have retired from the game following the third-place finish at the World Championship in New Zealand last November.

"I don't think their absence will affect our performance in this championship," Francis said.

Under-21 players

Simone Forbes will captain the Jamaica team, which includes six members of the Under-21 squad, which recently lost a three-Test series 3-0 to their Australia Institute of Sports (AIS) age-group counterparts.

The six are goal shooter Christina Solmon, who also represented the country at the World Championships, Crystal Gordon, Vanessa Walker, Malysha Kelly, Sabrina Spence and Sateva Taylor.

The other members of the squad are vice-captain Nadine Bryan, Nichala Gibson, Nicole Aiken, Samantha Mundle and Tracey-Ann Robinson.

The Jamaicans will face Canada in their second game on Monday, hosts St. Vincent and Grenadines on Tuesday, Barbados on Wednesday and the final game against Trinidad and Tobago on Friday.