Bermuda's chances of qualifying for next year's ICC Under-19 World Cup have been made a little harder after a second round of qualifying was added to the event.

Two years ago when the Island's Under-19s won the ICC Americas Regional Championship they gained automatic entry to the World Cup in Malaysia. This time around, however, just successfully defending their title won't be enough.

Not only will Terryn Fray's team have to finish in the top two of this year's Americas tournament which is being held in Canada next month, they will then have to finish in the top five in a Global Qualifier of ten teams, which will also be held in Canada, in September.

Only then will they be assured of a place at the World Cup in Kenya in February next year.

First though they must come through the tournament in Canada next month, when they will play five games in the space of five days from July 6-11, against the likes of Canada, USA, Argentina, Cayman Islands and the Bahamas.

As defending champions there will be added pressure on Bermuda to perform, but it is a challenge that excites Fray, Bermuda's captain.

"My team are really excited to be taking part in this tournament," said Fray. "We are confident that we can defend the title that we won two years ago. I think we have prepared very well, and all the credit for that goes to the coaches."

Fray has every right to be confident. The side he will lead in Canada includes the likes of Chris Douglas and Jordan DeSilva, both of whom have experience of playing with the senior squad, as well as exciting young players such as Joshua Gilbert and Greg Maybury.

And while the squad has some new faces, six of the 14 players selected played at the Under-19 World Cup two years ago.

Head coach Andre Manders is equally optimistic, and while he admits that his side have a few kinks in their game that need ironing out before the tournament starts, he has every faith that his young charges will be successful.

"It's a good all-round squad but there is still a lot of work to do, especially on running between the wickets, and in the batting department," said Manders. "The running between the wickets isn't that bad, I've seen worse at club level. It's just a case of building trust in your partner and working on the calling.

"The bowling is looking pretty good and we have six or seven all-rounders, which is what you want going into a 50-overs tournament like this.

"And I wouldn't say the batting was weak. Our top order is very good. Chris Douglas is batting well, Terryn (Fray) has already scored a 100 (this season), Regino Smith, Kamau Leverock and Deunte Darrell are all looking strong."

Preparation for the tournament has been ongoing, with Manders and team director Terry Fray installing a sense of discipline and consistency in the side. It has already started to pay off in the Under-19s performances against Premier Division sides in this season's Open League.

The team have been getting together twice a week to train and will step up that preparation until a week before the tournament when they will then have an intensive week-long camp at the National Sports Centre.

"We'll work from 9 a.m. until 3.30 p.m. that week," said Manders. "We'll do video analysis, fielding drills, one-on-ones, etc. So far we've been working twice a week, but we'll step it up until the tournament."

Squad: T Fray (capt), C Douglas (v-capt), D Darrell, J DeSilva, S Dill, K Fubler, J Gilbert, K Leverock, T Manders, G Maybury, P Smith, S Smith, R Smith, L Trott. Reserves: S Pitcher, B Hall, J Wilkin. Officials: A Manders (Head coach), C Wade (Asst coach), T Fray (Team director), G Bean (Team manager), C Brown (Physio).