Bermuda?s cricketing heroes will put the celebrations on hold today as they attempt to take yet another step forward in their amazing journey at the ICC Trophy.

Having already secured a place in the 2007 World Cup finals by virtue of their second place finish in the group standings, thumping United Arab Emirates, Denmark and finally USA along the way, their next hurdle is a semi-final against Scotland ? ironically a team that owe much to Bermuda for their development into one of the strongest sides outside the Test arena.

More than 40 years ago it was cricketers such as Alma (Champ) Hunt, regarded by some as the most talented player Bermuda ever produced, and Nigel (Chopper) Hazel, who made the long journey across the Atlantic and north of the English border to help promote the game.

Later Cup Match legend Clarence (Tuppence) Parfitt followed in their footsteps, playing a huge role in taking Scottish cricket to yet another level.

At this tournament, the Scots, along with hosts Ireland, have emerged as the two class sides and will be favourites to clash in next Wednesday?s final in Clontarf.

But while Scotland won all five of their group matches, getting past the likes of Canada, Holland and Namibia, they?ll step out at The Hills club in Milverton, just north of Dublin, today to take on a Bermuda team who have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Few back home and even less here in Ireland expected Clay Smith?s men to get this far, and they?ll again be the underdogs.

But that, says Smith, who hopes to play in today?s match after missing all three Bermuda victories with a hamstring injury, suits him just fine.

?Scotland are probably favourites, the way they?re playing right now,? admitted the skipper shortly after completing the 100-mile coach drive from Belfast down to Dublin yesterday.

?No doubt, they?re a tough team but if we play to our strengths we?ll just see what happens.

?We have to go out there and put up a reasonable total. In the last couple of games we?ve gone from strength to strength with our batting. If we can put them under a little bit of pressure, then I think we?re in with a good chance.?

Yet Smith admits that defeat wouldn?t be the end of the world.

?Our aim is to keep on winning but we have achieved the main goal, to qualify for the World Cup . . . that?s what we came here for.

?I think once we get out there and realise that we have something to play for, because we?re as competitive as we are we?re going to still push and try to qualify for the final.

?Our competitiveness just wouldn?t allow us to go out there and slacken off. We?ll definitely be going out to win tomorrow.The thought of making an ICC Trophy final should inspire all of us.?

As for his own chances of playing his first game since suffering injury in the opening match against Ireland, Smith says he?s optimistic.

?I?m feeling much better and I?m hoping to get to go. But that decision won?t be taken until tomorrow.?

Scotland boast a squad which includes four players currently contracted to English county sides ? Dougie Brown of Warwickshire, John Blain of Yorkshire, and Gavin Hamilton and Kyle Coetzer who are both with Durham.

However, their in-form player is vice-captain Ryan Watson who cracked 87 and took four wickets in the important victory over Holland which booked their place in the semi-finals.

Pace bowlers Brown and Paul Hoffman could prove a handful for the Bermuda bats while Colin Smith and Fraser Watts who scored 86 and 81 not out respectively against Namibia will be key wickets for the Island team?s bowlers to target.

Winners of today?s match will face either Ireland or Canada who meet in the other semi-final at Clontarf. The two semi-final losers play on Monday to decide third and fourth place.

Janeiro Tucker?s magnificent innings of 132 against USA on Thursday has lifted him to fifth in the ICC Trophy tournament batting averages.

With 199 to his name so far, he has an average of 66.33.

Hardly surprisingly, Ireland?s star batsman Ed Joyce, the first man to score 1,000 runs in county cricket this season, tops the averages with 106.0.

Bermuda spinner Dwayne Leverock is listed eighth in the bowling averages, having claimed nine wickets at an average of 17.44.