The presence of top national players plus Bermuda's rugby record against Cayman Islands are strong indicators the Island should excel in today's international - at least according to national coach Alvin Harvey.

Bermudians will be hoping his assessment rings true and that they can forget the recent disappointments of the national squad being defeated by a New England Select A team in Boston two weeks ago and the President's Select's loss last Sunday to the Atlanta Renegades.

"The team we have tomorrow (today), most of them played in the warm-up game we had in Boston so they have a good idea of their level and what mistakes they made. We've been working on those since we came back from Boston.

"The big difference is that the team which played on Sunday was a `B' side and that was their first game together. It takes a while for teams to gel and get a bit of continuity going. The group we have tomorrow is the national squad which has more experience with more senior guys who have played together before.

"It's just a matter of improving on our performance in Boston. We played well in phases over there but we didn't keep it up. Nobody really had an outstanding game so we've been gelling over the past couple weeks and the training sessions have been keen," said Harvey who is expecting a higher output from his team on the final day of the World Rugby Classic.

"I think we'll see a sharper and more dedicated side than the one we had up in Boston. I'll be looking for our guys to give all they can and play forward, purposeful rugby; not worrying how to play against them but having them worry about how to contain us.

"We're not going to think about the opposition. We're going out to play our game and they have to worry about us."

The Bermudian squad will be skippered by Derek (Bobby) Hurdle and includes the likes of forwards Billy McNiven, Freedom Burrows and Patrick Cooper with Andre Simons, Jonathan Cassidy and Nathan Brown among the backline.

"All of them have played for Bermuda before so they are a lot more experienced and a lot more rugby-savvy. We're looking to have a really good game tomorrow."

Harvey's confidence that the result will be in the hosts' favour also stems from their showings versus the Caymans of late.

"The two times since I was captain we beat them in the Caribbean Championships. We've got a good record against them. Of course you don't go out on a pitch thinking about losing, you think about winning all the time.

"I think our chances of beating the Caymans are very good. We're playing at home in front of a partisan crowd and we always do well playing here during internationals."

Though declaring "I have not hung up my boots yet", Harvey said he will not oust any of the young, capable players in Bermuda's line-up. However, he is looking forward to participating in the Classic final as part of the French side which he has represented this week.

"I expect to get on the park. It's been a great experience - apart from not understanding everything they say," he quipped. "It's always a pleasure to play with guys who have competed at international levels far greater than ours and I'm learning things."

Meanwhile, the USA are looking forward to their Classic final clash against the French,

Captain Craig Hartley reported no lasting injuries and said his side was raring to go.

"We had a nice little run and stretch on the beach and a swim in the water and got all the niggly injuries out of the way," he said yesterday.

Hartley said he was impressed with the French side in their win over the Barbarians.

"I thought they really took advantage of some of the mistakes that the Ba-Bas made," he said. "And I didn't think the Barbarians were able to do the same."

As for chinks the Americans might exploit, Hartley said: "I didn't see anything specific. We are going to try and stick to our same gameplan. I try not to play to another team, when you do that you start to make mistakes and guys started thinking away from what they need to do. We want to stick with what we have done thus far."

Hartley said he felt his side could create the same level of intensity that had been so apparent against New Zealand and South Africa.

"The guys are ready to go," he said. "They and I wish it was tonight! (Friday)"