PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC:

West Indies stand on the threshold of a Test series victory - significant in its value, and symbolic in its meaning - when they face England in the fifth and final Test which opens today at the Queen's Park Oval.

West Indies lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test by an innings and 23 runs at Sabina Park, where they dismissed England for their third-lowest total in Tests of 51.

This was followed by the aborted Test at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, and drawn Tests at the Antigua Recreation Ground and Kensington Oval.

The significance of a Test series victory would mark the end of a period of England's dominance over the Caribbean side and would allow Chris Gayle and his men to regain the Wisden Trophy which for 46 years has stood as the symbol of supremacy between the two sides.

World rankings

It would also formalise the first Test series victory in six years for the West Indies over a side ahead of them in the world rankings

Its symbolism - regardless of what sceptics might say - would mean the beginning of an upswing in the performance of a side which has scaled the depths of despair for far too long in the eyes of many in the Caribbean and outside.

All but Shivanrine Chanderpaul made their Test debuts following the turn of the century, which has been a tale of woe.

West Indies have contested 27 series since 2000, and have won just seven, while 17 have been lost and three tied. Four of those seven successes came against lowly ranked Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

A draw at the Oval would be sufficient, but Gayle is seeking to finish the series in grand style with a thumping victory that would send a resounding message around the cricket world.

Positive cricket

"Definitely, we are looking for the win," he said. "We are not going to settle for a draw and play negatively. We still have to play positive cricket. Once you start going out there with a negative mentality, it can sometimes backfire on you."

West Indies picked an unchanged 13-member squad for the Test, but they will think long and hard about Ryan Hinds and Daren Powell.

Left-handed all-rounder Hinds has not taken control of the No. 4 position, and following another failure in his native Barbados, it would not be surprising if Lendl Simmons, on the weight of runs in the regional first-class championship, makes his Test debut on home soil.

Powell may be a hard worker in the gym and in the nets, but in the middle of battle, where it counts, he has been a letdown, beautiful ball or not to dismiss England captain Andrew Strauss in the first innings in Barbados.

There have been a crescendo of voices for Lionel Baker to be given another chance following his Test debut in New Zealand, and the selectors would be well served to err on the side of caution if they choose to ignore them.

England will be desperate to win and level the series, but their biggest challenge is to find a bowling combination that can skittle West Indies out twice in the match.

Strauss and company have proven their batting is sound following massive totals in the previous two Tests, but the key to winning a Test is taking 20 wickets.

They may have been heartened by the nice coating of grass on the Oval pitch, and curator Joey Carew's prediction that there should be a bit more for the fast bowlers.

"We have a fairly good idea of our team," Strauss said. "I suppose fundamental to all of it is, what is the best way of winning this game?

"Drawing it is no good for us, so it's important that the selection we come to is the best way of winning a game of cricket."

Maiden Test cap

England have not ruled out playing five frontline bowlers, and the return of Matt Prior from paternity leave, following the birth of his first child, means they can risk shortening the batting and playing an extra bowler.

This would mean the drop most likely for Owais Shah, and a reconfiguration of the bowling with Danish-born fast-medium bowler Amjad Khan eyeing his maiden Test cap and Monty Panesar a recall, since senior coach Andy Flower virtually ruled Steve Harmison out on Wednesday because of a lack of form.

The last 10 Tests at the Queen's Park Oval have all produced outright wins. West Indies have been on the right side only three times, and England two of the remaining seven.