ATLANTA, Georgia – Though it’s not official, it looks more likely than not that Jamaica striker Darren Mattocks and midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson will make their return to the starting team in their semi-final game against the USA at the Georgia Dome here on Wednesday.

Game time is 6:00 pm (5:00 pm Jamaica time).

Both players missed Jamaica’s 1-0 quarter-final win over Haiti in Baltimore on Saturday resulting from card suspensions – Watson for accumulating two yellow cards over three games and Mattocks for getting a second yellow card in the high-intensity group match against El Salvador in Toronto last Tuesday.

Watson, who plies his trade at Houston Dynamo in the MLS, says he’s delighted to be back and is looking forward to the big match-up.

“It’s good to be playing in the semi-finals as the guys went out in the game against Haiti and played well… so coming in to play again I am just going to pick up where I left off,” he said.

Mattocks, who also plays in the MLS with Vancouver Whitecaps, says he has a lot to prove, therefore he is anxious to take the field.

“I think this is a game I would like to start in as I definitely have something to prove,” he said.

With the likely introduction of the pair, it would mean that striker Simon Dawkins and midfielder Joel Grant, who both started the last match, would have to give way.

The likely starting team based on the final training session at Emory University Tuesday morning, would be Ryan Thompson in goal, with Wes Morgan and Michael Hector in the heart of defence, flanking them are Kemar Lawrence (left-back) and Adrian Mariappa. In midfield Captain Rodolph Austin and Watson will play in the centre, with Jobi McAnuff (left-side) and Garath McCleary playing. Giles Barnes should again lead the attack to be partnered by Mattocks.

In the other semi-final match-up of the evening at the Georgia Dome, many-time champions Mexico will face Panama at 9:00 pm (8:00 pm Jamaica time).br>

Sean Williams