Bermuda will enter next week's ICC Twenty/20 World Cup qualifiers in Ireland as rank underdogs to advance in the competition. Yet national coach Gus Logie, who thrives on new challenges, doesn't appear to be at all bothered by that assessment.

And the Trinidadian has every reason to be upbeat about his team's chances of booking a place in next year's Twenty/20 World Cup finals in England, having been down this path before when he coached Bermuda to 2007 World Cup qualification three years' ago against all the odds.

"We have always been underdogs and I don't think there's anything different this time around. We are always considered as underdogs coming from a small cricket community, but that doesn't necessarily mean the size of our country will determine the outcome at the end of the day," said the former West Indies Test player.

"We just have to go out there and battle as best as we can and at the end of the day anything can possibly happen. We just have to focus on ourselves and play to the best of our ability."

Historically, the shortest format of the game has been cruel to Logie's team as two visits to the Stanford 20/20 Tournament in Antigua have been nothing short of catastrophic, the last of which prompted widespread public outcry after Bermuda were skittled out for a record low 62 against inaugural winners of the competition, Guyana.

But Bermuda appear to be made of tougher stuff these days, as was proven in recent matches against Canada and Scotland.

And as such should not be taken for granted, says David Hemp, the player with the most experience in Bermuda's Twenty/20 World Cup qualifying squad.

Still, even the Glamorgan skipper admitted that he and his team-mates will have their work cut out for them when they touch down in Ireland.

"The Twenty/20 competition in Belfast will be a tough but there is no reason why we cannot qualify, especially after the encouraging performances by the team and individuals over the last few months," Hemp told The Royal Gazette.

"On top of that, Twenty/20 cricket can change dramatically in the space of an over. So you are never out of the game, which invariably brings the sides playing each other closer together."

Bermuda face Group A rivals Scotland (9.30 a.m.) and hosts Ireland (4.30 p.m.) on August 3 and are due to depart for the UK next Tuesday.

Immediately following their assignment in Belfast, Bermuda will play two One-Day Internationals against the Netherlands in Amsterdam before returning home to begin preparations for a triangular ODI series against Chris Gayle's West Indies and fellow ICC Associates Canada at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club in Ontario, Canada, beginning on August 22.

"There are a lot of things happening and a lot of opportunities that players on the Island should want to be a part of. I just want to see their passion and enthusiasm raised to the level and consciousness of what it's all really about," Logie added.

"Cricket is now global and there are opportunities opening up there today for our cricketers and somewhere down the road our guys have got to see the big picture."