Baraza is expected to partner Denis Oliech in attack

The decision of coach Twahir Muhiddin to pick new players, mainly from the local league, is in sharp contrast to the attitude of his predecessor Jacob Mulee.

Mulee had relied heavily on Kenya's foreign-based players in the previous World Cup qualifiers.

Muhiddin said his decision to pick home-based players was informed by the quality of players featuring in the league.

"The local players are as good as any others, considering that most of them hold team positions in their Premier League clubs.

"They have showed consistency in their training since their arrival in the camp," a confident Muhiddin said on Tuesday.

He has deployed his two recent call-ups, Zablon Amanaka and Ali Breik, to play in the central defence.

They will fill the void left by the absence of the team's long-serving player, Musa Otieno.

The South Africa-based playmaker, who is remembered for scoring a winning penalty against Guinea in a 1998 World Cup qualifier in Nairobi, has failed to regain fitness after sustaining an injury.

However, Muhiddin said he will still rely on Dennis Oliech to spearhead the attack, alongside his regular partner John Baraza.

Guinea, who lead Group Five with eight points, have a squad made up of largely European-based players.