BERMUDA will play Barbados in two friendly matches at the National Sports Centre early next month shortly before the island takes on Trinidad in a two-leg 2010 World Cup qualifying tie.

The Bermuda Football Association confirmed the dates for the Barbados tour yesterday with the first match slated for Friday, June 6 and the second on Monday, June 9.

And coach Kenny Thompson said that while the two matches are billed as "friendlies" both teams will be going all out for victory to give themselves a boost ahead of the World Cup qualifying ties.

While Trinidad, who competed in the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, will be tough for Bermuda to get by, Barbados have an even harder task in that they have to take on the United States in their qualifying tie in June.

"Barbados will certainly be motivated (against Bermuda) because they have an even tougher match than we do in the United States," said Thompson who added that he will be eager to see how Barbados fare against Trinidad in a friendly this weekend.

"That will give us an opportunity to make a comparison so we can gauge where we are," said the coach adding that the more important match he will be watching will be the friendly Trinidad have against England in June.

"I am not sure what players Trinidad will put out against Barbados but the match we that will be analysing will be the one against England," he said.

That match will most likely feature the players who will face Bermuda as by then Trinidad will have all their professionals from the leagues in the UK.

Barbados are ranked 117 under the FIFA list while Bermuda are ranked 139. Trinidad are ranked 88 and Barbados' World Cup qualifying opponent, the US, are ranked 21.

Under the CONCACAF rankings, Bermuda are 16 with Barbados at 13, Trinidad at seven and the US at two behind leaders Mexico.

With many of the Bermuda Hogges in the national squad getting everyone together can be a bit difficult but Thompson said that cooperation was the key.

"Most of the players are contracted with the Bermuda Hogges but we are also working with the players who are not contracted with the Hogges as well as some Under-20 players," he said.

The national squad is composed of 25 players and Thompson said there is a chance for an Under-20 player to get in the senior team: "From my perspective any one of those 25 players are in line for positions but as you know sometimes you have a gem of the player who may be 17, 18 or 19 who could really push for a position."