Bermuda Under 19 assistant cricket coach Andre (Doc) Manders is optimistic his young charges can emulate their senior counterparts and achieve glory.

And he has every right to be given the Island team ? on paper one of the strongest assembled in recent times ? find themselves among the favourites to qualify for the 2006 Under 19 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Manders, along with fellow assistants brother Arnold and Herbie Bascome, head a formidable local delegation of 14 players that will compete next week in the Under 19 Americas Championships in Toronto.

The Island?s youngsters, many of whom feature domestically at the senior level, are poised to rub shoulders with their teenage counterparts from Cayman Island, Argentina, USA and hosts Canada in the round robin tournament which sees the eventual group winner earn qualification to the 2006 World Cup on the sub continent.

Bermuda, who missed qualifying for the last Under 19 World Cup by one run after finishing runner?s up to Canada, take on Argentina in their opening contest on Monday at King?s City.

?If the guys can apply themselves with the bat and minimise mistakes in the field, then I certainly think we stand a very good chance of qualifying for the World Cup,? stated Manders, a member of Charlie Marshall?s victorious 1979 International Youth Tournament team in Canada.

Manders and Bermuda?s Under 19 national squad returned home exactly one week ago after participating in the Sir Gary Sobers Schools Tournament in Barbados where the local boys compiled a record of four wins and four losses in eight matches.

Since then, however, the team has undergone four changes.

?Our bowling and fielding is okay but it?s just our batting that concerns me a bit,? Manders continued. ?In Barbados a lot of our batsmen where playing across the line (of the ball) too much early in their innings. But we have discussed this in training and stressed the importance of settling down and getting a good start in the first 15 overs.

?It?s important we do not lose a lot of early wickets and that?s where we fell short in Barbados. Every time we lost early wickets we never recovered and so this is what we are stressing to the players now. It?s vital we occupy the crease and keep wickets in hand ? especially in the last ten overs where we can accelerate the run rate and go for a big total.?

On paper, Bermuda?s squad is well-balanced with recognised batsmen straight down the order and backed up by a four-pronged right-arm seam attack bolstered by the late arrival of St.George?s Cup Match colt Stefan Kelly.

Kelly could share the new ball either with St.David?s team-mates Justin Pitcher and Loren Marshall or St.George?s? Brian Phipps. Bailey?s Bay off-spinner and team vice captain Rodney (Picnic) Trott and St.George?s leg-spinner Jade? Foggo will tend to the spin duties while Southampton Rangers all-rounders Malachi Jones and Ramen Wijerwardena might also find themselves shouldering some of the team?s bowling chores in Toronto.

Trott and team skipper Oronde Bascome will open for a Bermuda squad heavily stacked with bats right down to number 11 with the likes of Derek Brangman, Jahron Dickinson, Pitcher, Marshall, Jones, Wijerwardena and late additions Detroy Smith, Mischelle Paynter and Tywon Burgess ? in as replacement for Stephen Bremar Jr ? to feature in the middle and lower order.

?That?s exactly what we were looking for . . . batsmen right down to 11,? Manders added.

Kearon Trott, David Campbell and Anthony Hayward each remain on standby. Team Bermuda depart for Toronto on Saturday.

?About seven or eight of the team?s members have played in Canada before and so their experience will be an asset and possibly even work to our advantage,? Manders noted. ?These players have already played at King?s City and are familiar with the outfield and batting strip ? which is fairly quick.?

Meanwhile, assistant coach Arnold Manders, added: ?If the guys can play to their full potential they can win the tournament. The team just finished acquitting themselves well in Barbados.

?But batting is a concern and it?s important our batsmen get set early and go and make a big score and not be content in the 30s or 40s. Our main concern lies with the batsmen playing across the line.?

Manders said local batsmen often fell victim to leg before decisions in Barbados as a direct result of playing across the line of the ball instead of playing straight.

?Some of the players were very frustrated in Barbados. But if they can stay straight and put away the bad ball then they should be fine. But it is much easier said than done,? Manders cautioned.

?But in order for us to win we must remain focused in all three aspects of the game (batting, bowling and fielding). Our level of concentration will have to remain high for the entire 50 overs in every match. Other than that, I don?t see any reason why this team should not be successful.?