ST VINCENT and the Grenadines (SVG) tackle big guns Jamaica among other top teams when they stage the final round of Caribbean zone Under-20 qualifiers next month, and they are not alarmed about facing formidable opponents.

They will play alongside Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic from January 9-13 for a spot in the CONCACAF Under-20 final round qualifiers for the FIFA U20 World Championship, and local football chief Joseph Delves has positive feelings about their prospects.

"We are optimistic, we have a good crop of players and the build-up has gone well," Delves told CMC Sport. "We are very happy with the team and technical staff and also happy that the finals will be here in SVG," added Delves, the president of the SVG Football Federation (SVGFF).

SVG sailed through the first stage of Caribbean Football Union (CFU) qualifying in Grenada seven months ago with a 3-0 record, defeating Guyana 2-1, British Virgin Islands 23-1 and Grenada 1-0.

They also played unbeaten in second round qualifying in October, defeating St Kitts and Nevis 1-0 and playing to a 0-0 draw with hosts Netherlands Antilles to get into the final stage.

Led by head coach Kendale Mercury, SVG will open against the Dominican Republic on January 9 when Jamaica will face Haiti.

Double-headers also will be played on January 11 and January 13, with the final round group winners earning a berth in the eight-team CONCACAF championship in Trinidad and Tobago in March.

"Obviously once you get into the CFU finals, you are playing the best. We expect them (the other teams) to be technically sound and well prepared, Jamaica is strong, Haiti is always good at this level, and we expect to be severely tested. But we are optimistic,": Delves said.

Six teams have already qualified for the CONCACAF championship in T&T from March 6-15.

The Caribbean champions will join Canada, Mexico and the United States as well as hosts Trinidad and Central American sides Costa Rica and El Salvador.

The final team for the CONCACAF event will be determined in a play-off between the Caribbean runners-up and Honduras, who finished third in Central American qualifying.