Gavin Manders flies home today ready to unleash his new weapons on the domestic tennis scene.

The young Davis Cup player will be defending his Island Construction Open crown at Pomander Gate over the next two weeks and believes he has improved enough as a player to challenge for trophies this summer.

Andy Bray beat James Collieson in the Heineken Open, the first tournament of the year, and the two expect to play each other in finals all season.

But Manders is determined to have his say in the destination of the trophies and also crack the unbeaten Bray-Collieson doubles partnership with David Thomas.

?I think I am better player now than last year,? said Manders, whose Division II school was ranked seventh in the US.

?I have a bigger game than I did before and I have some new weapons and new tricks in my game.

?I am feeling good at the moment and have been training hard. I am a confidence player and my confidence is high ahead of this tournament.?

When asked who his biggest rivals are going to be here and in the Argus, there was only one player that concerned him.

?I ain?t afraid of Andy (Bray),? continued Manders, who beat Bray last year in the semi-finals before beating Jenson Bascome in the final.

?I don?t fear him any more. His game is perfect for mine ? the only one I?m worried about is James, but I think if I am on my game I can beat him now.?

Manders, now 19, has long had his sights on the number one spot and this summer is hoping to earn the number two spot in the Davis Cup team as he prepares for a busy summer of international competition.

He will compete in the Island Games in Gibraltar as well as the Davis Cup in Costa Rica, after making a successful debut last year.

?I am looking forward to all of this tennis,? said Manders, who expects to be in better shape at the beginning of the summer by not repeating his May 24 run of last year that left him lacking stamina.

?The Island Games should be interesting. I have not heard that much about it but it should be a good competition. And I?m really looking forward to the Davis Cup. I still haven?t really heard what is going on but I loved my experience last year and want a chance to compete again ? hopefully this time around I can take the number two slot.?