The Davis Cup countdown has begun.

With just five weeks left until Bermuda competes in the prestigious event for the first time, team members Michael Way, Billy Way, Donald Evans and Steve Bean are gearing up for the week-long tournament scheduled for Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

At first blush it would appear that Billy Way and Evans have the most arduous task ahead since they are preparing on their own from their home bases in the United States.

Michael Way and Bean, on the other hand, have the distinct advantage of training together, working closely with team officials like Allan Simmons, who will captain the squad, and David Lambert.

The primary concern will be getting the entire team ready for March 1.

Bermuda will compete in America Zone III (Group A) against Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Caribbean States. Only the top nation in each group will be promoted to Group II in 1996 and Puerto Rico is seen as the powerhouse in the division.

A training camp was held in late December and early January, but Evans was not available because of family committments. Another session is being organised for next month.

The most positive aspects surrounding the maiden camp was Michael Way's superior fitness and the way Billy Way and Bean clicked together so quickly as a doubles team.

Michael Way and Evans are expected to compete in singles play while Billy Way and Bean will play doubles. Each Davis Cup tie will consist of two singles and one doubles match.

Evans, based in Arlington, Virginia, and Billy Way, in New York City, however, are adhering to strict regimens and both are coming off victories in tournaments last weekend -- a good omen as Bermuda's Davis Cup debut gets closer.

"I'm really looking forward to it,'' said Evans yesterday. "I'm happy with the way I've been playing recently. I thought I played much better than I have, so I'm positive and optimistic about the future.'' Evans is coming off what he regards as a dismal year with the low point coming in September when he lost an exhibition match against Michael Way at the Tennis Stadium. What made the loss even more frustrating was that he was a point away from beating his arch-rival, when his game became unravelled by cramping. He suffered another loss against Way at Coral Beach in December.

"I'm looking for this to be the turnaround year for me,'' said Evans. "I would say the committment was there in '94, but things didn't go my way. (The year) was a testament to how you can't win them all. That's how I'm viewing it.'' Evans, 29, is no stranger to adversity and overseas competition. Most recently he represented Bermuda at the CAC Games in Puerto Rico where he was again undone by cramping.

Still, he believes that experience will prove invaluable for the Davis Cup.

"I definitely think that my being on the team adds a little experience,'' he said. "And having had the opportunity to travel to Paraguay with Mike and Billy at the 1992 Olympic trials, being with the two of them before, I believe that's good.'' Later he said: "I want to establish a winning (Davis Cup) tradition. I want to go down there and come back with so many victories that the person who has to follow behind will have something to really aim for. They'll look at my record in awe.'' Billy Way, 34, will bring the most experience to the squad with memories of 1991 still fresh when he and Steve Alger teamed up at the Pan Am Games in Cuba and almost came away with a bronze medal. The duo eventually won a bronze a year later at the CAC Games in Mexico.

"A lot of the teams we're playing, I know a lot of the guys on the teams,'' said Way. "Knowing the competition makes it a lot easier and I figure were on par with most of them. The only one that may seem a little bit above the rest of the group is Puerto Rico.'' Way views himself as the team leader on the squad.

"I'll make the guys feel we belong there, make them feel like we're to be reckoned with...getting them motivated that way.'' He added: "I bring experience and knowledge. Also, I played the professional circuit for three years so I know the range of how good players are. I know that the better players don't hit many more better shots, but their margins are much better. They hit shots nine times out of ten where we can hit the shots seven times out of ten. Just knowing that those guys aren't that far ahead... we can win on any given day.'' Billy Way