National team spots will again be at a premium as coach Keith Tucker continues his search for the right combination ahead of this month's two international friendlies against the visiting Puerto Ricans at the National Sports Centre.

Bermuda's senior national team will take on their Caribbean Football Union rivals on January 16 and 18 in preparation for next month's crucial home and away 2010 World Cup qualifier against Cayman Islands.

The squad resumed training last week after a short recess with enthusiasm in the camp said to be high following last month's 4-2 demolition of St. Kitt's.

And although the ranks have been hit by injuries to certain key cogs, coach Tucker has an abundance of players at his disposal capable of coming in to plug the gaps.

National team skipper Kwame Steede is recovering from an ankle injury, Major League Soccer (MLS) star Khano Smith is fresh off hernia surgery, Philadelphia Kixx striker John Barry Nusum is also among the wounded as is North Village midfielder Sammy Degraff.

Both Nusum and Smith have already been ruled out of this month's friendlies with Puerto Rico while Degraff is currently listed as doubtful.

"Sammy has a slight pull and so that could put a little damper on our team," Tucker said.

But Tucker is highly optimistic skipper Steede will recover in time to lead Bermuda's charge against Puerto Rico.

"Kwame is the type of player who always feels he has to put his best foot forward, even if it is broken. And I'm sure he's going to do whatever it takes to get himself ready.

"He wants to lead and do well and right now he figures he will be ready," Tucker said.

Last season's Bermuda Football Association MVP rolled his left ankle during a December 30 Premier's Dudley Eve Cup clash while playing for Devonshire Cougars and did not train with his national squad team-mates last week.

Another positive is the return of central defender Omar Shakir and the potential availability of college kids Keishan Bean, Tuarean Manders and Chris Frick for this month's assignment.

And having already assembled a winning combination, Tucker isn't expected to make big changes or alter the 4-5-1 formation that brought the former Howard University coach his first win at the helm at the NSC last month.

"We know what style of football we want to play and the guys are adjusting to it. We are asking them to be a bit more patient on the ball and a lot of the guys are adjusting well," Tucker said. "We played a 4-5-1 formation in our last match and scored four goals and so I know I have skillful players. But what I would most like to see them do is continue to work together and create combinations.

"We have also identified players who have solidified some positions, none of which we would like to announce at this point in time. But you can expect subtle changes because the side is coming together."

The former Somerset Trojans player is again placing a heavy accent on performances rather than results, but has warned his troops not to take the Puerto Ricans - ranked 196 in FIFA's world rankings - for granted.

"Concacaf and FIFA have done a lot to develop soccer in all the smaller islands and so we cannot take these guys for granted because their ranking is just a number. These guys are coming here to battle," Tucker said.

"It's a battle every time you go on the field no matter if you are playing Brazil or Puerto Rico. You just have to go out there and do your stuff and this is what I'm hoping to see from our guys."