Bermuda will tune-up for their World Cup qualifiers with two friendly matches against Grenada at the National Sports Centre next month.

Grenada are ranked 25 places above Bermuda in the Fifa World Rankings in 155th position, 13 places ahead of Bahamas, who the Island face in the first round of qualifying.

With the dates of the Grenada games, March 6 and 8, not designated for international fixtures by Fifa, professional clubs are not obliged to release their players, with Bermuda’s squad to be made up of Island-based and overseas college players.

Mark Wade, the Bermuda Football Association player development committee chairman, said the matches represented a “huge opportunity” for those players to force their way into coach Andrew Bascome’s plans.

“[The Grenada] games will be used as preparation for local players and a select few college players who we will fly in,” Wade said.

“The coach is looking to narrow down his selection and these matches will give him a chance to look at certain individuals in international action. It’s a huge opportunity for them.

“The team will be sprinkled with a few seasoned campaigners but, on the whole, will have a young feel to it.

“Grenada will bring a very strong squad and we expect a tough game, which is exactly what the coach asked for.”

Wade said that the BFA had tailored the team’s qualifying preparations to meet the demands of having so many players based overseas.

“We don’t necessarily have the opportunity to get the players together as regularly as we have in the past,” he said.

“It’s been a new set-up, having on-Island camps, and it’s all about fine-tuning things ahead of the [Bahamas] games.”

Wade also urged the Bermuda public to show their support for the Island’s “new generation” by packing the NSC for the games against Grenada.

“I know the coach is keen to fill the stadium and we want the

Bermuda public to see this new generation of players,” he said.

“Some of the players are just 18 or 19 and hopefully the public can help inspire their imagination.”

Zeiko Lewis and Mauriq Hill were among the overseas college players who returned to Bermuda for a training camp at the weekend. Both players are hoping to catch Bascome’s eye against Grenada.

Lewis, who plays for First Division side Young Men’s Social Club and Boston College, said that experiencing his first World Cup qualifying campaign would be something special.

“It’s always an honour to be part of the national team,” the winger said. “That’s all I have ever wanted to do. I feel like it’s within my grasp to make the squad, but there are a lot of other players who are just as capable.”

Hill, who plays for Hamilton Parish and Clemson College, said he was extra motivated by the prospect of playing alongside professionals such as Wells, of Huddersfield Town, and Mansfield Town’s Reggie Lambe.

“I’ve been working hard and trying to do the right things in training,” the 19-year-old defender said.

“It’s really exciting because I’ve seen players like Nahki Wells play on TV and it would be a dream to play alongside him in the qualifiers.”

Bascome’s side meet Bahamas in Nassau on Wednesday, March 25, before returning to Bermuda for the second leg at the NSC on Sunday, March 29.