Virgin Islands as favourites -- but they are taking nothing for granted.

National team coach Robert Calderon said he expected a good result, but added: "Make no mistake, we will not be under-estimating the BVI.'' And that sentiment is reflected in a team selection weighing heavily towards experienced players and geared to the system Bermuda have been using for the past 18 months, employing three central defenders and two wingbacks.

The two youngest players in the side, Tokia Russell and Stanton Lewis, will take the attacking and defensive responsibilites which come with the wingback role.

The central rearguard will consist of skipper Shannon Burgess, sweeping behind Kentoine Jennings and Clifford Roberts, with Dwayne (Streaker) Adams preferred to Timmy Figureido in goal.

Harrisburg Heat team-mates David Bascome and Meshach Wade slot straight into midfield, where Wade will play an anchor role and Bascome will concentrate more on attack.

Experienced Dandy Town player Paul Cann, another attack-minded player, got the nod for the third midfield spot after outstanding performances on the Florida tour.

And inevitably, the two English-based professionals, Kyle Lightbourne and Shaun Goater, will form the strike partnership.

Calderon made no apologies for the belt-and-braces approach of the back five system.

"It would make no sense to modify our system now just because the opposition may be a weaker team,'' said Calderon.

"We are trying to prepare ourselves for playing against stronger teams.'' But Calderon added the system allowed for succesful attacking displays as well as being the best way for Bermuda to "keep the back door locked''.

"We scored six against the Bahamas, four against the Caymans and two against Denmark using this system and we will be looking for goals,'' said the coach.

Utilising Manchester City's Goater, the English First Division's top scorer, to the maximum will be part of the team plan.

"We will try to get the ball to Shaun as often as we can and allow him the chance to come up with the goals,'' said Calderon.

The team flew in early on Thursday evening, followed by Lightbourne and Goater, who arrived a few hours later.

The two strikers were allowed a lie-in yesterday morning to recover from their late arrival, while the rest of the team got up to start training at 7 a.m.

The session was held at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground, the venue for tomorrow afternoon's match, which will kick off at 4 p.m. Bermuda time.

Though unimpressed by the compacted and uneven playing surface, Calderon seemed comfortable about how his players would cope with it.

"It's very hard and is a bit like a bad pitch in Bermuda in March,'' said Calderon.

"But we have fields like it in Bermuda and the players are used to those sort of conditions.

"But one of the goalmouths is very hard and we will be asking the match commissioner to make sure it is softened before the match. I am pleased that it's a big pitch and that the flanks are probably the best areas to play.

"There are a lot of hard, bobbly areas in the middle and the raised area where the cricket wicket is, but that's why we've got three midfield players with good ball skills to keep control of possesion.'' Bermuda team: Dwayne Adams, Tokia Russell, Stanton Lewis, Shannon Burgess, Kentoine Jennings, Clifford Roberts, Meshach Wade, David Bascome, Paul Cann, Kyle Lightbourne, Shaun Goater.