Jamaica's goal shooter Jhanielle Fowler (left) in action against South Africa earlier this year. - File

Robert Bailey, Star Writer

Jamaica's Sunshine Girls will oppose St Lucia in their opening game of the American Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA) Championships, which is being staged in Trinidad and Tobago starting at 5:45 p.m. Jamaica time.

In the opening game, hosts Trinidad and Tobago will tackle Guyana, while Grenada will battle the United States and Barbados challenge Bermuda.

The Sunshine Girls, who last won the tournament in 2008, when they last competed - are firm favourites to win the title again this year.

"We are confident," said Marva Bernard, president of the Jamaica Netball Association. "They (players) are going to go there and represent us well because they are taking the pride of the Jamaican people with them.

"Some of them (players) are young and will be representing Jamaica for the first time. We want them to do well, and we expect them to do well," Bernard added.

The Sunshine Girls, who are the highest-ranked nation in the tournament at number four in the world, are coming off a 2-1 home series victory over South Africa in their last competitive outing.

Defender Kasey Evering, who will be making a return to international competition after a year and half on the sidelines because of a knee injury, is also full of optimism that the Jamaicans will lift the regional crown.

"The team has been working really hard and the coach has been drilling us very hard," said Evering. "I think that we are prepared mentally and physically for this tournament because we are the top team in the Caribbean and we want to keep it this way by winning this tournament."

Evering said she will be making her experience count in whatever way possible.

"I am just going to go there with my experience and try to do my best and contribute to the team in whatever way I can so that we can win the championships and take the trophy back to Jamaica," Evering added.

Evering and captain Nadine Bryan are the most senior players in the Sunshine Girls squad.

The rest of the squad members are: Jhanielle Fowler, Sabrina Spence, Anna-Kay Griffiths, Vanessa Walker, Kimone Tulloch, Patricia McCalla, Malysha Kelly, Vangelee Williams, Sasha-Gay Lynch and Shameera Sterling.