their March 12 World Cup qualifier against the United States, will get its first key test when they tackle Queens University on Sunday at National Sports Club at 3.30 p.m.

Queens, winners of the Ontario Universities Athletic Association conference last year, arrive today for three games.

For Bermuda forward Patrick Cooper, the game will have some added significance since he was a regular on the Queens rugby side when he studied at the Kingston, Ontario, university.

Cooper said the Canadians play a different style of game because their players tend to be younger and less bulky.

"It will be interesting for me to see how I have progressed since I left Queens,'' he said. "A lot of the guys who are on the team now would have been in their first year when I was there.

"We will have to watch the Pettigrew brothers who play at stand off and full back. Both have played for Canada's under-19 squad. If we are going to have a good chance of winning, we are going to have to do the basics properly. We will have to secure our own ball in line outs and scrums and give our backs room to do their job.

"Our forwards will have to quickly get used to the speed they will want to play at because they will all be younger guys.'' Coach Kieron Peacock is viewing the match as an important build-up to Bermuda's possible World Cup berth and a chance to experiment with different tactics. Though unwilling to reveal anything further about the more technical aspects of his team's game plan, he said he expected Bermuda to be extremely mobile and fit.

Peacock has decided to rest Ali Nicholl, Phil Heaney and Gareth Davies, who are recovering from injuries for this game. And with Richard Raistrick and Neil Alexander off the Island and Andre Simons, Jonah Jones and Grant Tompkins out with injuries, the side will not be at its strongest.

Despite that, team captain Alvin Harvey expects much from his men because it is important for the team's morale that they win the game.

"From what I remember of them they are a bunch of fit, quick and eager guys,'' Harvey said of the national team. "When we (Teachers) faced them last we had a mix of players from the first and second teams. They were a really good, strong team.

"Most of the guys on the national team have been training hard and there is good cohesion especially in the backs because Scott and Andrew (Correia), Butch (Robinson), Mike (Montgomery), and myself all play for Teachers in the league and we have played well together.

"We have a good idea of what we are capable of.'' Harvey said Bermuda will probably have a size advantage in the scrums and it will be important to use the forwards as much as possible in order to get some good ball out to the backs.

"We will test their flankers around the base of the scrums. It's good we are playing them now, because we have been playing each other so much in the league and in practice that it causes us to lose our edge and aggressiveness sometimes.'' The Bermuda team for Sunday's game is: Danny Forsythe, David Cooke, Billy MacNiven in the front row, Ashley Redmond and Danny Cozens in the second row, Terry Walsh and Patrick Cooper at flankers and Sean Field (vice-captain) at number eight.

Andrew Correia is at scrum half and Dave Conway are at fly half. Wingers are Butch Robinson and Alvin Harvey (captain) and Scott Correia is at inside centre. Keith Beattie is at outside centre and Mike Montgomery is at fullback.

The touring side will also play a second team select on Tuesday, and the Vice Presidents XV on Thursday.

Harvard will play Dartmouth in an exhibition game at 2 p.m.

GRASSROOTS RUGBY -- Alvin Harvey tumbles toward the ball while Scott Correia, left, and Andre Simons watch closely. All three players are on the national team.