their English league clubs for their first World Cup game.

Technical director Clyde Best confirmed that Bermuda Football Association would exercise the right given to them by soccer's world governing body FIFA to ensure their top players were available.

Best will also request the release of pro midfielders David Bascome and Meshach Wade from US National Professional Soccer league side Harrisburg Heat.

The first leg of Bermuda's first round qualifier against the British Virgin Islands falls on Sunday, March 5, which would rule Goater and Lightbourne out of important league fixtures for their clubs the day before.

Goater's Manchester City are chasing automatic promotion from the First Division and Lightbourne's Stoke look likely candidates for the Second Division promotion play-offs.

Goater would be ruled out of a trip to Crystal Palace on March 4, while Stoke are at home to Chesterfield. Three days after the BVI fixture, both clubs are in league action again, City at home to QPR and Stoke at home to Bury.

"We will ask for Shaun and Kyle for the World Cup,'' said Best. "They are our top players and they make a tremendous difference to the team.

"We have faxed the necessary documents over to the clubs and I have spoken to both players and they told me they want to play.'' But Best conceded that if Bermuda chalked up a handsome lead from the first leg in the Caribbean, he would consider not demanding the release of the two strikers for the second leg at the National Stadium on March 19 -- the same day Goater's club face fellow promotion hunters Charlton at Maine Road.

"I would like to have them all the time, but they have professional careers and we have to bear that in mind.

"But we are like any other country -- we want the best we have, so we can go as far as we can in the World Cup. I mean, England wouldn't want to play without Michael Owen, would they?'' added Best.

Best knows Manchester City manager Joe Royle from his playing days, but said he had not spoken to him personally about the Goater situation.

Royle was this week quoted as saying he had not yet received confirmation of a call-up from the BFA.

"I only plan one game at a time for City so I'm hardly going to have memorised Bermuda's fixtures for March!'' said Royle.

"I'm sure we can reach a solution to the problem and with Bermuda only a seven-hour flight away, we should be able to get Shaun there and away pretty quickly.'' Goater, also seeking a compromise, said: "Hopefully, they can come to an agreement which suits City and the BFA.

"I love playing for my country, but the World Cup games couldn't have come at a worse time. I have asked the BFA to let City know the full arrangements so something can be worked out as quickly as possible.'' Lighbourne confirmed he would play in the first BVI match and that the compromise idea for the second leg appealed to him.

"Playing in the World Cup for my country is important to me and even though the BVI are ranked above us, we should do well with the likes of Shaun (Goater), Kentoine (Jennings) and Meshach (Wade) who have all played in England,'' said Lightbourne.

"Of course, it interferes with my career at Stoke, but that's something which is always going to happen with international football.

"We will give our all to try and get through and if we do well in the first leg and I don't get called up for the second that would be good, because Stoke is where I earn my money.'' Lightbourne was a hero of Bermuda's last World Cup campaign in 1992 and scored a late headed winner against El Salvador to spark joyous scenes at the National Stadium.

"My last experience of the World Cup was a good one,'' said Lightbourne.

"When the team does well, it brings the country together and it just gives you a great feeling.'' Goater, currently enjoying a winter break in Lanzarote with City, is the top scorer in the English First Division, but Lightbourne has struggled to earn a regular place in the Stoke starting line-up.

The last time Goater and Lightbourne played together for Bermuda was in the friendly against DC United last year. Lightbourne also played in the Caribbean Cup qualifying tournament in May and scored four goals, all in the 6-0 win against the Bahamas.

Key player: Shaun Goater (left), seen here celebrating Man City's league play-off win last season, will lead the line for Bermuda in their first World Cup qualifier against the British Virgin Islands.