squad for this weekend's second and third matches against the touring Leeward Islands.

Only Roger Blades, who is being rested, and Gregg Foggo, who will be attending a wedding, will be missing for Saturday's President's team at Wellington Oval, paving the way for fast bowler Kevin Hurdle of Flatts to come into the squad of 13.

Sunday's Bermuda team for the match at Lord's will be chosen from the 14 players who are going to Guyana at the end of the month.

"We're looking to gauge ourselves and this should give us an indication of what we will be up against in Shell/Sandals,'' said Bermuda coach Allan Douglas.

Though the Leewards team will not be at their strongest, with Test players like Curtly Ambrose, Kenny Benjamin and Keith Arthurton unavailable, there are some youngsters in the tour party who will be keen to establish themselves.

"Some of them have played Shell/Sandals and some of them will be playing,'' said Douglas.

Because the tour was brought forward, Bobby Simpson, the Australian coach who will be acting as technical advisor to Douglas, will miss the tour matches as he will not arrive in Bermuda until September 20. He will travel with the team to Guyana, however.

"We're not messing around, especially in the last year-and-a-half,'' said Douglas of the commitment being shown to the national programme.

"If you act up you're out, if you don't produce the goods you're out and if you produce the goods you come back in.

"Malaysia (1997 ICC) is really our foremost focus because qualifying for the World Cup is the ultimate right now. The Shell/Sandals will give us our biggest test so we need to take a strong team that's going to help us to be better when we go to Malaysia.'' There were some surprise omissions from the Bermuda team for the Shell/Sandals with senior players like Noel Gibbons, Clevie Wade, Ricky Hill and Dexter Smith all ignored. The absence of Hill, Smith and Wendell Smith meant that two players would be pushed into the opening spot, and Douglas has confirmed that Clay and Glenn Smith would now fill that role.

The Bermuda batting looks solid down to number eight with captain Albert Steede and Charlie Marshall at three and four to be followed by Jeff Richardson, Janeiro Tucker, Arnold Manders and Dean Minors.

International teams have adopted a policy of putting one of their key strokemakers in as opener in the limited overs game, such as Mark Waugh for Australia and Sachin Tendulkar for India. The same gamble is being taken with Glenn Smith.

"Glenn is a really good player, loads of ability and we're just going to encourage him to bat,'' said Douglas.

"Your best batsmen go out there and bat early. India tried it in the prior World Cup and the West Indies did it with (Brian) Lara. If Tendulkar and Lara can bat for 35 overs, can you imagine the runs you'll get? "The game is designed for batting so why not put guys who can play strokes, and who are very confident about themselves, up there early. ICC has designed the game to be exciting and the restrictions are for the batsmen.'' Douglas, playing for Cleveland in the Knockout Cup final on Sunday, was encouraged from a national coach standpoint at the way in which players Clay Smith and Dean Minors batted in the St.George's innings to lead them to a thrilling victory.

Despite having St.George's 36-3 in search of 236 for victory, Cleveland failed to land their first KO Cup title as St.George's won by two wickets.

"I told our players `don't be disappointed' because every one of those guys who made runs (Clay Smith, Minors, Wade and Ricky Hodsoll) were doing and saying things that you are supposed to do when you're out there in the middle,'' Douglas said.

"They set themselves targets, picked up the ones and kept themselves within reach and they played cricket exactly as I would want Bermuda to play. I was pleased to see them do it but very disappointed it was against us.'' GLENN SMITH -- will open the Bermuda innings with Clay Smith.