BERMUDA'S badminton squad is fitter than ever and larger than last time but don't expect fireworks when they take part in the Island Games next month.

In fact team manager Rick Dorush will be happy for just a marginal improvement on the 2003 effort in Guernsey which saw Bermuda nearly at the bottom of 14 teams competing.

"I am just hoping to improve on that ? maybe a top ten finish."

But while ambition is low, effort is high with the nine-person squad putting in gruelling hours at BAA gym on fitness and drills.

"I speak for several others in saying we are a lot fitter than last time and we have six new faces in the squad," said Dorush.

"We are training Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and at the weekend. We are doing a lot more physical drills.

"On the Sunday we are doing three hours on the court doing four corner drills. When you come off that you are wasted."

Not only does the drill tone the muscles but it also improves footwork as the team nears the competition which starts on July 9 in Shetland ? 200 miles off the north of Scotland.

Getting used to the cooler temperatures will be a factor said Dorush, a transplanted Canadian, who fears he is little too acclimatised to Bermuda after four and a half years here.

"You need to get used to the temperature and warm up properly. The muscles don't react the same way."

However he says the Bermuda team's recent tour in Ottawa got the team used to cooler weather as well as exposing them to continuous play.

"We played four days in a row, that's important because in Shetland we will play two days, have one day off and then play for another three days." The squad were put through their paces by former Canadian number one Doris Piche.

"It was a different pace ? a lot faster so it took a bit of getting used to but by the end of the session we were coming along quite a bit better being coached by world class players."

Dorush believes Mark Haugen stands a good chance in the singles while Dorush, who has represented Canada the All-England tournament international tournament, could do well in the doubles alongside Ian Wilkie and in the mixed doubles where he is paired with Dianne Blais.

Blais is team captain and one of six Island Games beginners including Haugen, Lee Harrison, Paul Lee, Julie Matthews and Claire Kent. Dorush, Wilkie and Amanda Smith played last time.

Kent, from England, said: "I have never represented a country before. I am proud to represent Bermuda although it's a great responsibility.

"I would never get the chance to do this in England.

"We are going out with the strongest team possible."

However she realises they could come up against some top players as the game is far more popular in cooler islands where indoor sports are understandably at a premium.

"Some of those players eat, drink and sleep the game," said Kent.

Dorush is thrilled to be going again to the event which will showcase 24 islands, 2,000 athletes and 15 sports.

"It's like the Olympics for the small islands." In fact the biennial international event is larger in than the Winter Olympics.

He believes the 2003 hosts Guernsey will be the island to beat while the Faroes could also spring a surprise.