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WREXHAM'S Dennis Lawrence is on the verge of making history for club and country as Trinidad & Tobago head into a two-match play-off that will decide their World Cup fate.


The 31-year-old could become the first serving Racecourse player to appear in the finals of the tournament if Trinidad overcome Bahrain to win through to Germany 2006.

It would be their first-ever appearance in the world's most popular sporting spectacle.

But the 6ft 7ins defender, who is old enough to remember a 1989 1-0 qualifier defeat at the hands of the USA when a draw would have taken his country to Italia '90, is not counting his chickens.

Equally, though, he believes Trinidad have built up significant momentum since the appointment as manager six months ago of former Real Madrid and Netherlands coach Leo Beenhakker.

Trinidad suffered a disastrous start to their qualifying campaign.

Under Beenhakker's predecessor, Bertille St Clair, they took only one point from their opening three matches and along the way suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat at the hands of neighbours Guatemala.

Instilling defensive discipline and organisation, the new Dutch coach transformed their campaign and a 2-1 victory against Mexico in the final qualifier last month earned Trinidad their play-off place.

"In terms of qualification the two games with Bahrain are the biggest in our nation's history," said Lawrence. "We are just 180 minutes away from getting to Germany next summer, so it's a great opportunity not for just myself but for the entire nation of Trinidad & Tobago.

"Any footballer would say that playing in the finals of the World Cup has to be the highlight of your career and if it does happen, it would be a great achievement for me personally and for everyone involved.

"It would be the first time in our history we've got there so that demonstrates just what's at stake in the next fortnight.

"In terms of becoming the first Wrexham player to play in the World Cup finals it's another achievement if it happens. At the moment, though, I don't want to think what it could be like.

"I need to focus on the two play-off games and if we go through then I'll probably be able to enjoy the dream. Until then it's a case of preparing for the next game."

Lawrence - set to win his 60th cap in Bahrain - said the Trinidad players had responded positively to the appointment of Beenhakker, who persuaded Falkirk player-coach Russell Latapy to come out of international retirement.

However, the Dragons defender refused to criticise the former boss.

"Different managers have different ideas and Beenhakker brought Latapy back, but before then Bertille got Dwight Yorke back from retirement too, which was just as important for us," he added.

"After the first few games of the qualifying group we weren't in the best of positions, but Beenhakker has come in, he's done his homework and he's got us to where we are now.

"But fair play to the lads as well because they've dug in and got the results. Now we are in a position to take it on to another level, so it would be a shame to let it slip now."

But Trinidad made their supporters sweat in the vital match against Mexico, going a goal down early on and then missing a penalty before goals either side of the break by Coventry City striker Stern John sparked the celebrations that are still going on.

"I got up on the morning of the game and I had a feeling that we were going to win," recalled Lawrence..

"You have to give the lads credit because even when we went 1-0 down we didn't panic, we kept our heads down and kept plugging away at our game.

"We scored an equaliser before half-time so we knew we were back in it, which was important, and we grew in strength all the way through to the final whistle."

Trinidad have home advantage in Saturday's first leg in Port of Spain before travelling to the Middle East for the return on Wednesday, November 16, but Lawrence warned: "These two games are not going to be at all easy and I'm sure Bahrain are feeling they have a great chance too.

"Our fans are excited and already celebrating, but we have a massive job to do yet. The fans regard our situation as being just two games away from Germany, whereas we have to stay focused on the games to come."