Local stars Andy Bray and James Collieson got a taste of what they?ll be up against tomorrow when they knocked up with XL Open qualifiers yesterday.

Bray, ranked number one on the Island, took a day off from accounting to warm up at Coral Beach with Davis Cup number one Collieson against ?Swiss Greg and Polish Adam?.

And the experience, in bright sunshine and on the slow green clay, was just what they needed.

?I do feel a bit better about Saturday now,? said Bray, whose practice partners were actually named Greg Chambaz and Adam Chadaj. ?It makes you realise you won?t be playing against a God ? or even Federer.

?Don?t get me wrong, it?s not that they aren?t good, but at least you get the pace of what you will have to play against.

?I?m still nervous, these are guys who can stand at the back of the court and hit the ball just inside the baseline for hours without missing any, but I think the nerves have gone a bit after today.?

For Collieson, playing in his fifth XL, he knows what to expect ? but isn?t sure how ready he is.

?Somehow, things aren?t quite right for me at the moment ? I think I have picked up some bad habits from all the coaching I have been doing. I?m sure it will come together for me in the real match ? to be honest if I play well or badly, I am going to get spanked either way.

?I am looking forward to it and I hope to put in a good account of myself.?

But for Collieson, who warmed up for the 2004 Open talking about trying to get a job as a professional hitting partner, the allure of pro tennis seems to have disappeared.

?I don?t envy these guys anymore,? he said with a hint of cynicism in his voice. ?Spending all their time flying around the world, living out of suitcases in flea-bitten places, no, that?s not something that interests me any longer.?

The two players will not find out until around 10.00 tonight who their opponents will be but both are hoping to avoid South American dirt-ballers.

The two players are also hoping to team up in the doubles qualifiers on Sunday ? if there is space in the draw.

Also down at the club yesterday was Ecuadorian Giovanni Lapentti, the first main draw player to arrive. Now, he would have instilled some fear in the locals if he had hit with them.

Watching the lean and lithe South American alternately stroke then batter the ball around was an early indication of the standard of tennis that will be on show next week at Coral Beach.