T&T's Fed Cup team of Analiese Rose, Breana Stampfli and Anya King worked out for the first time yesterday ahead of their opening match against Barbados on Thursday at the Club Tennis Las Terrazas Miraflores in Lima, Peru.
And the trio has expressed confidence of advancing out of their group, which also comprises the Bahamas. Only the top team will advance out of the group.
On Tuesday, Stampfli said they have a very good chance of progressing, but will particularly face a tough challenge from the Bahamians later this week, a team that comprises players they have played against in the past couple years.
"The players have been working hard. We have good synergy on the team. I think we can get the measure of Bahamas, having played against them, but I am not sure about Barbados as I cannot remember playing against them. However I believe we will have what it takes to get past them," Stampfli said.
Last year the T&T team finished sixth in the Fed Cup, a result that Stampfli believes was due mainly to a plethora of injuries. "All we need to do is stay fit. Analiese will provide experience, as will Leacock, who has been on the professional circuit," Stampfli noted.
The team's only set-back was the non-arrival of King's luggage, which prevented her from taking the court for training.
Leacock, on the other hand, said her team will get the opportunity to do an assessment on the Barbados team, which they have never played against. The Barbadians will come up against the Bahamas in the group's opening match, and according to Leacock, her team will be able to see the strengths and weaknesses of the Bajans.
"This will put us in a better position when we face them (Barbados) tomorrow," Leacock said.