The senior national team, Black Stars, is poised to maintain its supremacy over the Taranga Lions of Senegal in a friendly match scheduled to be played at the Milwall Sports Stadium in London on Tuesday.

Black Stars coach Claude Le Roy said on Monday that the game is to prepare the team to win CAN 2008, to be hosted by Ghana.

He has called three new young players to beef up his old squad: Dede Ayew, son of three-time African footballer of the year; Abedi Ayew Pele, who plies his trade with French Olympic Marseille; Mario Barwuah, who plays for Inter Millan; and Sadat Bukari, Etoile du Sahel mid-fielder.

The important nature of the match has forced injured Black Stars' skipper Stephen Appiah, who plays for Fernerbache in Turkey, to play the game.

He was quoted on Monday saying that he wanted to boost the morale of the new players to help the team build up towards CAN 2008.

It is unclear whether Michael Essien of Chelsea will make it for the match owing to initial media reports that he picked an injury last week.

Ghana has dominated the Senegalese senior side for more than a decade, having beat them 1-0 in CAN 2006 in Egypt and drew 1-1 with them in a friendly match prior to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

The Tuesday game between the two West African soccer giants is expected to be telecast live in Accra from London.