The Island Construction Company Open begins at Pomander Gate tennis club this weekend with more at stake than just the chance of winning the event.

With Bermuda due to take place in a round robin Davis Cup match in Honduras in July, Steve Bean, the Bermuda coach, will use the competition to finalise his squad for July.

There have already been trials over the past week, which allowed Bean to have a look at the players who are likely to be in the squad.

"The trials were not about deciding who goes and who doesn't," he said.

"There were a couple of players who have been injured that we wanted to look at, and some who are based overseas who will not be able to play in the tournament.

"It just gave me an opportunity to have a look at several players, and see where they are. But I'll be doing the same thing over the next couple of weeks."

Once the tournament has been completed, Bean will then put his recommendations to the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association's (BLTA) selection committee who will have the final say on who makes the squad.

Two players who will not be available to make the trip to Honduras are Andy Bray and James Collieson.

As a non-Bermudian, Bray is ineligible for the Davis Cup, while Collieson has work commitments that will not allow him to travel with the team.

In their absence several players have taken the opportunity to press their case for inclusion in the squad. Jensen Bascome came through the trials undefeated, while Jordan Talbot and David Thomas also impressed.

Of these however only Thomas is in the men's top 10 in the latest BLTA rankings released yesterday.

Thomas is currently sixth, while Bascome is among a group of three players tied at 11 place.

As well as facing hosts Honduras, Bermuda will also take on Costa Rica and the US Virgin Islands, in the Americas Region Zone Four competition.

n The Island Construction Company Open at Pomander Gate Tennis Club runs from the 31 May until June 14.