Trinidad and Tobago's Champions League cricketers leave for Barbados today, hoping to get used to the pace of things.

A 14-member squad minus five players who are currently on West Indies duty, will play three matches against the Barbados national team. And coach David Williams is hoping that the conditions there will provide suitable preparation for his players ahead of the tournament in South Africa next month.

"Barbados will give us the ideal sort of conditions, similar to South Africa with the pitches, the bounce and pace," Williams said.

However, even before the trip, Williams was confident that the surfaces his team has been practising on at the National Cricket Centre in Couva would aid it in handling the conditions in southern Africa.

"It's a lot bouncier than usual," he said. "We spent a lot of time here which is very similar to what will happen in South Africa. A lot more rolling and a lot more wetting (went into the pitch preparation).

Williams also commented on the inclusion of fast bowler Shannon Gabriel in the Champions League squad. Gabriel had one nightmarish over in the loss to Afghanistan in the Asia versus the Caribbean tournament when he delivered two over the waist full tosses and had to be withdrawn from the attack.

Williams sees Gabriel as being a potential trump card in South Africa.

"It (the conditions) will suit him," he said. "Shannon is an out and out fast bowler and this is what we want. He is an asset because he's got pace, he's got height.

"It was a difficult situation (against Afghanistan), the ball was difficult to grip. He's put that behind him and is looking forward to Barbados and on to South Africa."

The matches against Barbados will be the latest in what has already been an extensive series of eight trial matches for the players, in addition to last month's Twenty20 for 50 Cricket Festival and the Asia versus the Caribbean T20 series.

Coach Williams is satisfied with the build-up thus far.

"This year we've been very, very fortunate," he noted. "We had good weather right through (and) we were able to complete all eight (trial) matches...

"(And) the preparation did show in those two tournaments. The way those guys went out and played showed they are well prepared. We are happy with the preparation, it's gone very, very well."

He added: "Some of the guys played extremely well in the last two tournaments. We are just looking for consistency. It's to see how the younger players will adapt. It's a time to see how the younger guys will handle the quicker pitches."

Williams will also be keen for two players coming back from injury to get up to speed soon.

The coach said left-handed batsman Evin Lewis who picked up a slight groin strain in the Asia versus the Caribbean series would have been "doing some batting," in training yesterday, while all-rounder Kevon Cooper who damaged ligaments in his left ankle in the same tournament would also be having a bat.

Following the Barbados tour, T&T will return home to continue their preparations before leaving for South Africa on October 4.

Squad for Barbados: Rayad Emrit (captain), Jason Mohammed, William Perkins, Evin Lewis, Kevon Cooper, Yannick Ottley, Sherwin Ganga, Adrian Barath, Navin Stewart, Shannon Gabriel, Daren Ganga, Dave Mohammed, Justin Guillen, Khary Pierre.