It?s just a friendly match but for Bermuda?s footballers tonight?s face-off against Panama will provide them with their sternest test yet in the World Cup campaign.

Away from home and against a team ranked significantly higher than them internationally, Kenny Thompson?s squad will be looking for a strong performance to boost their confidence ahead of their second-round World Cup qualifier against El Salvador in June.

Tonight?s match will be played at the Rommel Fernandez Stadium in Panama City starting at 9.30 p.m. Bermuda time.

The absence of some key players gives others the chance to prove their worth and coach Thompson has signalled his intentions to wring the changes as he continues experimenting with players in different positions. All 20 footballers on this tour, he says, will ?see action? in at least one of the three matches.

Success on the first leg of this two-stage Central American tour would also be a great fillip as the Bermudians move on to Nicaragua for two fixtures later this week. They can perhaps expect a not-so-friendly reception in that country having beaten the national team twice here a month ago with their management crying foul over the officiating in Bermuda.

What may be more worrisome, however, is the weekend unrest at soccer matches in Nicaragua with 16 people being injured in the stands as fans, celebrating a national championship, mishandled explosives.

This came seven weeks after a man died and 27 others were injured in a similar incident in neighbouring El Salvador where explosives have now been banned from football.

Investigators said about four lbs (almost two kilograms) of powder or fireworks exploded as spectators celebrated Sunday?s victory of the home team in Esteli.

A 25-year-old, who was holding the explosives when they went off, lost both hands and two children were among those rushed to hospital.