Vice-skipper David Hemp is confident Bermuda can shrug off the loss of experienced all-rounder Delyone Borden.

Borden, arguably the best spinner on the Island, paid a heavy price for walking off the field during a recent tour match in the Caribbean and then refusing to play over a pay dispute.

"He (Borden) is a good cricketer that offers us options with both bat and ball as well as being an asset in the field so he will be missed. But we are fortunate to have several other players who can fulfil this role," Hemp said.

"There were some really good performances from some of the younger players on the trip ( to the Caribbean), especially Rodney Trott and Tamauri Tucker with the ball."

All-rounder Trott, one of six Bermudians to complete a six-week stint at the Brisbane Cricket Academy in Australia last year, bagged 19 wickets on Bermuda's tour and received a glowing endorsement from former West Indies Test player Larry Gomes.

Tucker, who played under Trott during last year's Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia, was one of only two bowlers to claim five wickets in a match during the same tour.

Last week Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) announced their 15-man World Cup qualifying squad for the qualifiers in South Africa, which Hemp believes can re-qualify for cricket's showpiece competition.

"I think it is a strong squad with a good blend of experience and youth," he said. "It will be a tough competition but if we can build on what we have achieved on this last trip, continue to work hard on our games and keep believing in ourselves and each other, then we will give ourselves the best chance of qualifying."

The former Glamorgan skipper has every ounce of faith in a five-pronged seam attack led by George O'Brien jr, Stefan Kelly and Kyle Hodsoll.

"We have three opening bowler options with back-up from both Janeiro Tucker and Stephen Outerbridge so all things being equal we should have enough cover," he said.

Hemp is adamant his team's batsmen can rise to meet the challenges that lie ahead against some of the most disciplined bowling attacks at the ICC Associate level.

"We just need to keep things as simple as possible and not think about the end result – that will take care of itself," he added.

"We have tended to lose wickets in clusters and are therefore losing momentum at crucial times, which is something that we obviously do not want to do."

As for his own form, Hemp said: "I felt in reasonable form throughout the whole trip (to the Caribbean) but certainly felt that I got myself out on too many occasions by pushing the accelerator button too quickly."

In addition to the likes of budding cricketers Trott and Tucker, another team-mate who caught Hemp's eye during Bermuda's tour of the West Indies was PHC and St.George's Cup Match batsman Fiqre Crockwell.

The early order bat, who is also tidy behind the stumps, has made a seamless transition to the national level and could play a major role in Bermuda's World Cup qualifying bid.

"Fiqre had a great tour and there is no reason why he should not be able to transfer those performances to the Associate level in a few weeks time," added Hemp. "He is full of confidence at the moment and as long as he sticks to his game plan he will not go far wrong."

Bermuda are scheduled to face United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their opening World Cup qualifying match April 1 at Potchefstroom University.