A fixture clash that would deprive the Bermuda Hogges of more than half their players for four matches may turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the national side.

The 'Gombey Warriors's' win over the Cayman Islands means that the two legs of their World Cup qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago take place at the same time as the Hogges play four vital games.

The first leg, on June 15th, takes place at the same time as the Hogges face Richmond Kickers and Crystal Palace.

And the second leg, on June 22nd, clashes with a planned double-header against Western Mass Pioneers on June 20-22nd.

But far from being a problem, the Hogges' loss could help develop the next generation of talent ¿ if the country's young footballers take advantage of an opportunity about to be presented to them.

With more than half the Hogges' squad playing for the national team, it means that for at least two USL games Kyle Lightbourne's side could be struggling to put out a team.

And Paul Scope, the Hogges co-owner, is hoping that the Island's young footballers will see it as a chance to make a name for themselves.

"The current thought is that we will re-arrange the home games with the Pioneers, and try and see if we can't fulfill our away fixtures some other way," said Scope.

"One way of doing that would be to get the USL to agree that we can take six replacement players on trial from the beginning of the season.

"At the moment you can have a roster of 26 players, but to sign someone new, you then have to release someone else.

"What we're hoping is that the USL will allow us to have some young players as trialists, and that they can play in the games that are affected.

"It could turn out to be a positive thing. The point of the Hogges was to supply players to the national team, to help them get ready to play at a higher level. If we could take some young players then it might help the development lower down.

"They would have to train with us from the beginning of the season, they wouldn't get paid, and would have to prove that they were drugs free, but for some it could be an opportunity to develop.

"They could come in, show us what they had, and if they did well in the games maybe replace someone on the squad.

"We could view this as an opportunity to develop players for the Hogges and the national team, but it depends on the USL."

Scope is hoping that a way can be found so that the trialists are not needed for the home games against Western Mass, but he is less confident about a solution being found for the games in the US.

"Obviously the national team takes priority, so we're hoping that the USL agree to let us switch the fixtures.

"At the moment we have games against Richmond on the 14th, and then at Crystal Palace [in Baltimore] on the 15th.

"That obviously rules out the guys in the national squad for both those games.

"At the moment it looks like we will either have to re-arrange the home games, or just double up.

"The away games will be tougher, because the USL sides in the States sell season tickets and might not be willing to change the date ¿ it maybe that we have to forfeit those games, but that's obviously not what we want to do."