While it remains to be seen just how many medals Bermuda will return with from Barbados, judging by current form national coach Gerry Swan is envisaging great things from his 11-man squad.

However, he warns that positive results will only come if the athletes remain focussed and work hard towards producing their best while performing.

"We are optimistic, we are not going there just for the sake of being there.

We are looking to go down there and compete, compete as best we can and take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself at the competition,'' said the coach.

"Nobody's name is placed on the medals until the event takes place and one of the honest things about competition is, even on occasion so-called medal contenders may not actually end up being in the medals ... it could be for a combination of reasons they are not.'' Bermuda's only medal winner a year ago in Grenada, a silver, was captured by Brittney Marshall in the shot putt and the now 13-year-old will be attempting to do well again in the same event as well as the discus while competing in the under-17 age group.

"We're going down there with certain expectations, but we're not the only country that has them and that's what makes the competition challenging. You have to be prepare to do your best and on the day present your best,'' said Swan.

That is the message he reminds his squad of, but the coach appears to be unsually optimistic going into the Games in Bridgetown between April 14-16 based on the recent outstanding performances of his athletes.

His expectations have been boosted by the current form of the athletes, most of whom have exceeded their own performaces this time a year ago.

"The level of the peformances are higher in most cases, hopefully it also means that they are better prepared, and being better prepared not only means being in better physical shape but it also means being in good mental shape to handle the rigours and challenges of competition at that level,'' he said.

"I think we would like to see all of our athletes in the finals. For example I certainly think Richard Walcott is one we hope to see in the finals again and to challenge for a medal, and this can be said for a lot of the athletes.

"But nobody's name is engraved on medals, not until the day of competition.

The only thing people can go by is looking at recent past performances and maybe get some idea of the likelihood where athletes have the possibilities of reaching the finals.

"Having said that, when we look at the squad of 11 athletes who have been selected, I might add, something that hasn't been pointed out is that three of them will be first time participants at Carifta,'' said Swan.

They are Tiffany Eatherly, Derrick Golding and Henry Talbot and all will be competing in the under-17 age group. Eatherley will compete in the 800 and 1500 metres, Talbot in the same two events and Golding in the shot and discus.

"It will be a complete new experience for them. All the others have made previous appearances and for a number of them last year was their first Carifta,'' said Swan.

Off the 11 only two are in the Under-20 age group, Gabriel Wilson and Walcott, both of whose current performances levels are higher this year than last going into Carifta ... and there are others who are on form.

"Danielle Watson, fourth at Carifta last year, just missing out on a medal.

Her best pre-Carifta time last year was 58.9 in the 400m, this year she has been consistently around 57.7/57.6. If the outcome this year is similar to what it was last year in terms of her preparation in what she actually did at Carifta then she is expected to do well,'' said Swan.

"She had a 25.6 in the 200m last year, now its 25.1 going into Carifta.'' Crystal Hayward is another who has made a significant improvement in the discus.

Tiffany Eatherly is newcomer who has the potential to make the finals of the 800 and 400m.

But the unknown factor is whether she can handle the higher level of competition, given it is her first time.

Zindzi Swan, in the high jump, came seventh last year with a leap of 1.60m.

This year she has performances of 1.67m, 1.65m and 1.63m going into Carifta.

The same time last year entering the games she had a best of 1.58m.

Marshall won silver last year with a throw of 11.22m and is now surpassing that distance, recently throwing 11.59m.