Damon Ming believes the current national team is better equipped to reach the Digicel Caribbean Cup finals than the squad that fell at the final hurdle two years ago.

Bermuda enjoyed their best ever run in the competition under former coach Kyle Lightbourne and came agonisingly close to reaching the last stage, losing to eventual Gold Cup winners Haiti in a play-off.

Ming, who was a mainstay of that team, now reckons Kenny Thompson's crop of players can surpass the class of '06 and make it all the way to the finals to be staged in Jamaica in December.

"I can vividly remember the game against Haiti," said the flying winger. "It was really disappointing to go out in a play-off, but Haiti were a good team and won the competition.

"It's difficult to compare that team with the current team but if you go off our recent results then you have to say we're playing at a higher level now.

"I mean, we beat Trinidad and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the next stage of the World Cup so we're playing pretty good."

It's a decade ago since the Bermuda Hogges player made his international debut in an away defeat against Cayman Islands.

He may still only be 28, but Ming is now one of the elder statesman of Bermuda's 18-man squad.

And with a trio of teenaged newcomers making the trip, Ming acknowledges that he has an important role to play in helping the youngters settle in.

"I actually made my debut in the Cayman Islands when I was 18," said Ming. We ended up losing to Cayman 2-1, but I came off the bench early on in the second-half and had a decent game as far as I can remember.

"I'm aware that I'm one of the senior players now and I always try and show the younger guys the ropes.

"I've seen Tumani (Steede), Casey (Castle) and Roger (Lee) play and they're all good players and have a bright future with the national team if they stick at it."

Bermuda will today take part in their first training session in Cayman ahead of tomorrow's opening match against Antigua and Barbuda.