Canadian track stars prepare for World Relays with Paris Olympics on the line

With the sun beating down on the infield on a sweltering Friday morning in Nassau, The Bahamas, Canadian head coach Glenroy Gilbert provided an impassioned speech to the Canadian sprinters ahead of the World Athletics Relays. 

"Don't sleep on this opportunity because this is one you're not going to get back," said Gilbert, who helped win gold for Canada in the men's 4x100-metre relay at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Twenty-seven Canadians have made their way to the island city to compete in the two-day international competition that serves as the Olympic qualifying event for relays. The event will be streamed live on cbcsports.ca and CBC Gem starting at 6:55 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday night. 

"This is special. I love relays and so being able to be here to make sure we can guide these athletes to the Olympics is a really good feeling," Gilbert said. 

On Saturday night, Canadians will take to the track inside Thomas A. Robinson Stadium to compete in the women's and men's 4x100m, the women's and men's 4x400m  and the mixed 4x400m. 

There are two chances to qualify for Paris 2024. On opening night, the teams that finish top-two in each heat will qualify for the Olympics. Those teams will also advance to Sunday night's final to compete for medals, prize money and Olympic lane seeding. Should teams fail to qualify on Saturday, they get one last chance on Sunday in the repechage round. 

WATCH: Glenroy Gilbert hopeful teams will give Canadians a lot to cheer about:

The Canadians took to the track for a final training session on Friday morning, trying to find timing and chemistry ahead of the event. 

Six-time Olympic medallist Canadian track star Andre De Grasse has reunited with Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake and Brendon Rodney to compete in the men's 4x100m team. The quartet won gold at the world championships two years ago in Eugene, Ore. 

De Grasse, Brown and Rodney have been part of the same relay team since 2015 when they won bronze at the world championships. De Grasse says experience and trust will play a key role this weekend. 

"We know what it takes to get on the podium. We know each other. We're friends off the track. And we can be honest with each other. Communication is obviously key," De Grasse said. "It would be great to make a statement here. Anytime I get a chance to team up with the guys is always a great feeling.

"If we're going to contend for gold at the Olympics it starts here."

WATCH: Canada's teams focused on Olympic qualification:

Intrigue abounds around the Canadian men's 4x400m team. Ahead of the event Gilbert wasn't too sure what the team was going to look like, considering a large part of the team consists of NCAA runners.