Kenya's cricket team left Nairobi on Thursday to start to play matches with Zimbabwe, with the players warning their opponents to brace for a tough battle.

Team captain Steve Tikolo said that the team's new coach Roger Harper had introduced professionalism in the side which is expected to give the Zimbabweans a run for their money.

"If we are going to play the same team we met last year, then Zimbabwe should brace themselves for a tough competition," Tikolo said.

"This time, the selection was done when some regular players have injuries which give the youngsters an opportunity to prove themselves," he added.

"His (the coach) work ethic is very professional which is good for the boys," Tikolo said

Kenya were in Zimbabwe in October when they won all three matches against an A side.

Harper has given each player a personal training schedule on as well as advice on food and alcohol.

Zimbabwe, however, have only been together two weeks since the end of the player strike and contain few faces with any real international exposure.

They are also under a coach, Kevin Curran, who they have not always seen eye to eye with.

This is a make-or-break series for both but while Kenya are looking to prove that they can compete at the bottom end of the Full Member countries, and can live with any defeats, Zimbabwe, who suspended themselves from Test cricket last month, simply have to win to prove they have arrested the slide.

Source: Xinhua