GUATEMALA CITY -- Guatemala's plan for reaching the final round of CONCACAF qualifying is as simple as it is challenging: get three points at home against Jamaica on Friday and then scrap for a point on the road in the United States next week.

The first leg comes Friday night at the Estadio Mateo Flores, where the Chapines face a formidable foe in Jamaica.  With a trip to the U.S. awaiting them, the Guatemalans feel that their best chance to arrive at the final match day with possibilities safely intact is to beat the Caribbean side at home.

"For us, these are two finals," defender Elias Enoc Vasquez told CONCACAF.com after practice on Thursday.  "The first is tomorrow, when we'll try to give it our best, because we know that winning tomorrow we're alive for the final match in the United States.  But losing tomorrow would be disastrous for us."

A loss to Jamaica would not eliminate the Guatemalans, but it would mean that in all likelihood they would have to go to the U.S. and manage a win in Kansas City -- a challenge the group characterizes as more difficult than winning at home.

The three teams are tied atop Group A with seven points, though for the moment Guatemala and the United States enjoy a one goal advantage in goal differential over the Jamaicans (plus-two to plus-one).

The U.S. visits Antigua and Barbuda on Friday, a match from which the Chapines fully expect Jurgen Klinsmann's side to take all three points.  Antigua then visits Jamaica for the final match day, leading the Guatemalans to conclude that getting all three points from Friday's encounter is absolutely critical to their chances.

"That's what we're all hoping for," said Vasquez.  "First, win here, and then go to the U.S. with that impetus, and try to get a point.  That would be ideal for us.  That's why tomorrow is like a final for us.

"It's life or death.  We shouldn't take the role of favorites, but we have to do what we have to do.  We'll try to go for the three points.  At home, we have to be more direct."

For his part, Guatemala head coach Ever Hugo Almeida, has worked this week on a strategy to expose what he feels are the few weaknesses in a Jamaican side that has 18 players on its roster based with clubs off the island.

"During the week, I think coaching is 90 percent of what happens," said Almeida.  "During the game everything changes, the players are the most important.  There's nothing left to do but maybe make a few adjustments, and execute."

Almeida's strategic stylings will be complicated this week, however, by the injury crisis that has hit Guatemala's defense.  Four central defenders who have served as starters during the qualifiers for Brazil 2014 are unavailable due to injury.  The Paraguayan tends to play with three central defenders, but has only two available on his roster for the next pair of qualifiers.

Additionally, history doesn't seem to be on the Chapines' side.  Guatemala has never beaten Jamaica in an official match, a streak that includes a dozen contests over the last two decades.

"We have to reverse what's come before," concluded Vasquez.  "They say we've never beaten Jamaica, now we'll have to try to change that paradigm and do things well."

The challenge for Guatemala on Friday night is undoubtedly huge.  But all the same, the Guatemalans know that their chances to advance to the hexagonal, and those of qualifying for a first-ever World Cup, hang in the balance against Jamaica.