PHIL Simmons says West Indies will be the most dangerous team at the World Twenty20 but believes Ireland can beat the host nation in their opening match of the tournament.

Speaking in RSA headquarters in Dublin yesterday, after naming his 15-man squad, Simmons says the unpredictable nature of Twenty20 still gives Ireland a chance of reaching the Super Eight stages for the third successive world event.

"Along with (holders) Pakistan, West Indies are the most dangerous T20 side in the world but they could just as easily have a bad day. Of course, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, (Shiv) Chanderpaul and (Ramnaresh) Sarwan can take apart any attack in the world, but the way they play always gives the opposition a chance and we must make sure we are at the top of our game because, as we have proven before, we can turn over anyone on our day," said Simmons.

Ireland must win one of their two group games to maintain their impressive record on the world stage and in the second match against England, Eoin Morgan, who played 63 games for Ireland, will be in the opposition.

"There are no secrets in the cricket world now," added Simmons. "Morgan is very close friends with the (Ireland) captain (William Porterfield) but friendship will go out the window when they face each other on the field and it will be just another game which we will trying to win. We are not going there to make up the numbers, we expect to reach the Super Eights again."

Simmons also announced that Trent Johnston is the new vice- captain, in succession to the retired Kyle McCallan, and the skipper of the 2007 World Cup side on Ireland's last visit to the West Indies.

Boyd Rankin who returns from a pre-season trip to South Africa with Warwickshire tomorrow is the one addition to the 14-man qualifying squad for the finals although the pace bowler will stay with his county for their first championship match of the season, due to end April 12, and join up with the Ireland squad in Jamaica the following day.

Ireland leave for the Jamaica Cricket Festival next week, then have a camp in Port of Spain, including a T20 game against Trinidad, before going on to Guyana where they play warm-up games against New Zealand and Afghanistan on April 27 and 28. The World Twenty20 starts two days later.