Just weeks after returning from the Commonwealth Games, Bermuda's top squash players will be thrust back into action in the coming week.

Tommy Sherratt and Nick Kyme both represented the Island at the recently concluded Games in Manchester, England, and they are now set to be joined by James Stout and Mel Caines in Quito, Ecuador for the Pan American Championships.

The competition starts on August 22 and continues through until August 31 with both individual and team championships. The top teams will then qualify for next year's Pan-Am Games.

"There was a selection procedure and it was interesting that we could have picked anyone for qualifying," said Bermuda's Director of Squash Ross Triffitt.

"We could have selected our top expatriates if we had wanted. However, for the actual Pan-Am Games they do have to be Bermudian.

"As a result we have decided to send our strongest Bermudian team, rather than just try and stack the team to qualify. That is so the guys who will be playing in the Games will be those who have qualified.

"We wanted them to be tested at this level prior to actually competing. Nick and Tommy have just got back from the Commonwealth Games and James has just returned from the Junior Caribbean Championships so it was important to have all the guys together and competing in Ecuador."

All have competed at the World Junior Championships, while Sherratt and Kyme have played at the Junior Pan-Am Games and twice at the Commonwealth.

"This is probably the biggest event for James and for Mel outside of junior competition," said the coach.

Triffitt said he expected the team to qualify.

"The top 12 will qualify," he said. "There is a very strong field and we hope to qualify and then get the guys prepared for the Pan-Am Games.

"I think we can be fairly confident in saying we will qualify. The guys seem to be in pretty good shape."

Triffitt said the ankle injury that Sherratt suffered in Manchester was healing well and did not think it would be a factor next week.

The climate, however, might.

"The courts there are only about 18 months old and are not air conditioned. That might work to our advantage but unfortunately it's at high altitude and that is why we are going so early," Triffitt said.