Tom Wainwright has warned the cricketing public not to write off Bermuda's chances of success at the forthcoming Americas Cup tournament.

The team leave for Argentina early this morning and Wainwright will accompany the squad and coach Mark Harper as team manager.

Despite the absence of Clay Smith, Glenn Blakeney, the withdrawal of Albert Steede, Irving Romaine and Jermaine Postlethwaite and the dropping of Janeiro Tucker, the Southampton Rangers stalwart believes his side could raise a few eyebrows.

"It's a shame (that so many are absent) but the way I look it is it might be a chance for their replacements to prove themselves and I can assure you they are going to try their best," he said.

Bermuda face the USA, Canada, the Caymans, Bahamas and the host nation over the next week, and Wainwright believes none should be feared.

"I think we stand just as good a chance as any team. They look very good," he said having witnessed the team in training recently.

"I tried to assess the strength and weaknesses but from my observations the bowling was good and the batting was good - it's just a matter of them applying themselves."

Wainwright said he believed he had the necessary experience for the job in hand.

"I didn't put myself forward. I was asked. It is very much an honour," he said. "I have been involved in cricket since 1948. I captained the Southampton Rangers for nine years and in that time we won five championships.

"I have toured with Rangers before to the West Indies so I have a vast amount of experience in cricket.

"What I will be looking for, first of all, is 100 percent dedication and putting Bermuda first."