Bermuda's Under-17 national team will kick off their World Cup pre-qualifying campaign with a two-leg series against the Bahamas in the Caribbean later this week.

Coached by Devarr Boyles and Gary Darrell, the Gombey Warriors take on Bahamas on Friday and Sunday with the winners of the series progressing to the next stage of the competition next month.

The majority of the 20-man squad have been training under Boyles and Darrell for the past 12 month as part of the Bermuda Football Association's (BFA) national academy.

Overseas-based players such as Bermuda Hogges' striker Jair Minors, Zeiko Lewis and Tre Ming have also been included in the team which leaves the Island tomorrow.

Boyles said Bahamas Under-17s were an unknown quantity but was confident his team would emerge victorious.

"We don't know much about the Bahamas," he said. "Originally it was a four-group tournament but it's just a two-leg series. There will be a home and away leg although both will be played in the Bahamas.

"Generally over the two legs the better team will go through. We hope to ascertain as much information as we can from the first game.

"We haven't played a match in about 12 days and hopefully the boys will even more hungry to return to competitive action.

"The long-term goal for these players is the Hogges and the senior national. But obviously we want to progress to the second round and play against the bigger teams."

Minors played two matches for the Hogges during their last road trip and he believes the experience of the higher level would stand him in good stead heading into the Bahamas games.

"The players are much faster and stronger (in the PDL) and it was a lot harder to get on the ball and hold it up," said the 16-year-old. "My decision making had to be a lot quicker because the game was played at a much faster pace."

Bermuda Under-17 squad

Dale Eve, Dakai Grant, Zeon Robinson, Zeiko Lewis, Jonte Smith, Shakeem Albouy, Jair Minors, Tre Ming, Zeiko Lewis, Demetre Daniels, William White, Mauriq Hill, Jevon Swan, Dimitre Frias, Chikosi Basden, Shachkeil Burrows, Quintonio Lema, Kamua Leverock, Ryan Hassall, Shahkai Trott

Coach: Devarr Boyles

Coach: Gary Darrell

Head of delegation: Shequita Parsons

Standby: Jaquan Smith DeShields, Mikal Simmons