The next generation of national team footballers head to a US training camp this weekend to groove their way into form ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Kentoine Jennings' Bermuda Under-20s will play matches against Pennsylvania-based outfit Reading Rage during their week-long workout before next month's qualifiers in the Cayman Islands.

Bermuda take on the hosts, Puerto Rico and heavy favourites Jamaica with the top two teams progressing from the group.

Jennings and his assistant Jack Castle have been working with the newly created Under-20 team since March and have selected a 20-man squad for the training trip.

Assistant Castle said he believed Bermuda could progress from the group and reach the next stage of the qualifiers for the 2009 showpiece competition.

"We believe can do very well against Cayman Islands and Puerto Rico, but Jamaica will definitely be the team to beat," he said. "If we can get past this round then we will be able to bring in the likes of Reggie Lambe, Marquel Waldron and Kris Frick who are currently on duty with the national team.

"Unfortunately Nakhi Wells is out with a long-term ankle injury and will not be fit for some time."

Bermuda Under-20s have been pitting their wits against both the senior national team and Bermuda Hogges in recent weeks, and Castle said they had shown encouraging signs.

"There's a lot of talent in this team with the likes of Roger Lee, who is part of Kenny's Thompson's Academy, Devonshire Cougars' Tumani Steede, Boulevard's Ian Coke and North Village's Shayne Hollis. We've picked a lot of players who have experience of senior domestic football."

The Under-20 squad return to the Island next weekend in time for the senior national team's World Cup qualifying second leg match against Trinidad at the National Sports Centre (NSC).

Bermuda Football Association (BFA) president Larry Mussenden has urged Islanders to transform the NSC into a sea of red by descending en-mass wearing their national team jerseys.

"We want a packed house to cheer the team on against Trinidad and create a powerful atmosphere," said Mussenden. "Lots of Trinidadians have been purchasing tickets and we encourage our supporters to do the same."

Tickets for the match on Sunday, June 22, as well as the national team jerseys, are on sale at the BFA offices in Cedar Avenue.

Bermuda Under-20 national squad for the training trip to Reading Rage:

T.Bell, M.Crockwell, J.Seymour, R.Lee, C.Castle, T.Steede, I.Coke, S.Hollis, K.Tucker, M.Thomas, L.Thomas, K.Latham, K.Abraham, P.Castle, K.Grant, D.Nelson, T.Trott, P.Parson, R.Cann, J.Santucci.