Colin Wells, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) coach, believes his team have the firepower in their arsenal to gun down Bermuda in their opening 2011 World Cup qualifier at Potchefstroom University tomorrow.

The reigning Pepsi ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Division Two champions are reflecting on an eight-wicket thrashing at the hands of tournament favourites Ireland.

Yet in spite of that rude awakening, former England, Sussex and Derbyshire all-rounder Wells remains confident his team can rebound and get back to winning ways in a match of utmost importance to both teams.

"We played poorly against Ireland and didn't do ourselves any justice and I feel for the players. But our team have potential and fear no one," Wells told The Royal Gazette.

Like their opposition, UAE will be looking to get an early win under their belt.

"We need a win to get some momentum," Wells continued. "It's a long tournament and an early win is like money in the bank because you get to carry your points (from round robin phase) to the Super Eights."

Among those Bermuda will have to be wary of are potentially destructive openers Arshad Ali and Mohammad Iqbal as well as all-rounder Saqib Ali who averaged 99.40 and bagged 17 wickets during the WCL Division Two tournament.

Such is Wells' confidence, already he's targeted a rematch with Ireland in the Super Eight stage of the tournament that will determine World Cup qualification, who gets ODI status for the next fours, Intercontinental Cup qualification as well as relegation to the World Cricket League Division Three.

"They won't be so lucky next time around," he smiled. "One day cricket is like a two-horse race whereas any team can be beaten on the day – just ask Pakistan and Bangladesh who were beaten by Ireland at the last World Cup."

Though Wells may come across as arrogant, he's clever enough to know that at this level it is ill-advised to take any team for granted. "We are just going to take each game as it comes, one ball at a time," he added.

Sharing Wells' enthusiasm is Emirates Cricket Board secretary, Mazhar Khan, who feels his country's cricket development and infrastructure would be greatly enhanced by World Cup qualification.

"It would create a seriousness around cricket here and help to improve the infrastructure and facilities that we have on offer," he said. "It's an exciting time for cricket in the UAE. We have good junior programmes running in schools in order to bring in more indigenous local players and I think we are succeeding."

UAE came under close scrutiny from the ICC during the 1994 ICC Trophy (World Cup qualifier) for allegedly fielding ineligible players.

The allegations prompted the ICC to make drastic reforms to player eligibility regulations to ensure a level playing field.

UAE won the event and with it qualification to the 1996 World Cup where they celebrated a win against fellow Associates Holland.