Tyler Butterfield has one philosophy as he prepares to make his Commonwealth Games debut in the triathlon tomorrow - "To go as hard as I can."

The 19-year-old Bermudian was touted as one of the Island's best hopes for success at the Manchester Games but has played down his chances in what is a world class field.

"It was said that I have a chance for a medal but realistically I don't," said Butterfield yesterday. "Originally, I said a top 25 finish and I would be happy but having seen the field, top 20 or top 15 and I would be really happy.

"I am not expecting myself to get a medal. Most athletes out here know what I am up against. A lot of them, like the cyclists, have done triathlons before and know who I am up against - it is a different class.

"All the Australians are world champs, Olympic champs. One of the English guys is a four-times world champ and I am a 19-year-old with not much experience on the world scene. I haven't won any races."

Butterfield said this was one small step on a long road.

"I am just trying to get experience," he said. "Hopefully in two years' time at the Olympics in Athens I can use some of this information. I have seen how the training is and, for example, at Athens I might not come as early. A lot of the teams have come later so they can prepare outside of the Games. That is just one of the things I have learned and hopefully I can use that in two years' time."

The 35 competitors, who include fellow Bermudian Kent Richardson, have to complete a 1,500 metre swim in Salford Quays, a 40 kilometre ride around Manchester city centre and a 10 kilometre run which goes past Manchester United's Old Trafford Stadium.

"I am just going to get in and go as hard as I can," said Butterfield. "I have just got to make a pack on the swim. Out of the swim and into the transition to the bike I have to be in a pack. From there I can just settle down.

"If I can get into a pack I think it will be the second or third. I don't think it will be the first. Obviously, I hope I can and I am just going to swim as hard as I can - almost as if it's just a swim race and then sort of set it up from there."

The swim is Butterfield's weakest discipline but he said his preparation for the run had not gone 100 percent to plan.

"It's the swim, then the bike, then the run but I haven't been able to run much because when I was home I had stitches in my foot and that knocked out six days of swimming and running, I could only bike," he said. "Then since I have been here I've had tendinitis in the top of my foot but after a couple of days of physio it has gone away and I am looking forward to racing."

Meanwhile, Richardson is just looking forward to the experience of competing in front of a massive roadside audience.

"There's going to be a lot of people, heck, they reckon about 100,000," he said. "I feel great and I think I am going to get in the mix.

"This is the Commonwealth and you just want to let it all hang out. There is nothing to hold back for, it's just flat out."

Richardson may be one Bermuda's bubbliest characters, but his enthusiasm for tomorrow's race is close to being off the scale.

"I am champing at the bit," said the 43-year-old. "If the race was right now I'd be ready to go. I just have to save the effort.

"Tomorrow (Friday) we are going to do a last couple of trainers, run a couple of striders, blow out the legs and then wake up the body on Saturday and ride the course and then we should be ready, man."

Bermuda's other competitor is Karen Smith who will be one of 22 women tackling the demanding course.