p.m.) as they start on the long road to qualification for this year's Olympics.

Head coach Mark Trott acknowledged it would be a tough assignment for his team, but speaking after training at the Rommel Fernandez Stadium, he was confident his players were capable of springing a surprise.

"(Coach) Dennis Brown went to have a look at the Panama team in training today and he said he was not overawed -- he didn't think they looked any better than us,'' said Trott.

"It's not always easy to tell how good players are when you see them training and we have to respect the Panamanians.

"But one of our biggest advantages is that they will have no idea what to expect from us.'' Tonight's match is the opener in a three-team qualifying tournament, also involving Cuba, whom Bermuda will meet on Friday night. Only the top team will advance to the next qualifying phase at the end of this month in Pennsylvania.

There were no injury problems among Trott's 18-man squad and the coach said they were raring to go. "They're feeling pretty confident, even a bit cocky and arrogant,'' said Trott. "We're telling them if they're going to talk that way then they have to back it up by going out and playing that way.

"Stevie Astwood told me tonight he's tired of the waiting, he just wants to get out there and play and that's typical of this team.'' Astwood is one of five players in the squad who played in last month's 9-0 World Cup win against the British Virgin Islands.

Around 10,000 fans are likely to be cheering on Panama tonight and for most of the Bermudians, it will be the biggest crowd they have ever played in front of.

Bermuda team from: Jay Smith, Kofi Dill, David Thomas, Joey Rego, Blenn Bean, Jamaul Boyles, Tokia Russell, Thomas Carter, Jameiko Jennings, Steve Astwood, John Barry Nusum, Rohaan Simons, Keith Jennings.