Two of the world?s top squash players are jetting into the sport?s new Mecca for an exhibition game next week.

Jonathon Power and David Palmer will battle it out in the Docksiders World Class Exhibition next Friday as Bermuda once again stamps its mark on the world squash map.

The evening showdown is the public highlight of a three-week international junior camp that has drawn 20 youngsters from age 11 to 18 and two of the world?s top coaches to the Island.

But the game isn?t just an exhibition for the two players, it is the culmination of two weeks of intensive training for Palmer ? a part-time resident here ? as he prepares for the $120,000 Cathay Pacific Open in Hong Kong.

Palmer is flying in tonight for two weeks of training in Bermuda?s hot and humid conditions as part of his acclimatisation for the rigours of Far East competition.

His coach, Shaun Moxham ? who also works with Bermuda?s number two pro James Stout ? meanwhile, is leading the first two weeks of the junior camp while Power?s coach Mike Way will take the final week.

Next Friday?s game, to be played in front of up to 150 people at the Devonshire headquarters of the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association, is a re-match of this year?s Bermuda Open semi-final, where Palmer triumphed in a marathon game hailed as one of the best matches of all time.

Power ended up in hospital with a suspected broken bone in his right leg after a collision in the final game of the 103-minute epic which Palmer won to earn a spot in the final ? a match he lost, clearly fatigued, against Lee Beachill.

Although this latest match-up is only an exhibition, there will be bragging rights up for grabs for the two players who are scheduled to meet in the latter stages of the Hong Kong tournament, a $120,000 top-ranked Tour event.

?Having players of this calibre coming here to prepare for a major tournament shows how Bermuda has become the international training camp of choice for some of the leading players,? said Director of Squash Ross Triffitt, himself a former professional.

?The junior camp has attracted some of the leading young players from America and Canada as well as the coaches of two former world number ones and world champions.

?Even though our facilities may not be on a par with some other countries, Bermuda is continuing to expand as an important squash venue.

?Next week?s match will give the public an opportunity to see two of the world?s top players battling it out in what should be a fine example of entertaining, stroke-making squash.?

Next year Bermuda will stage the $120,000 PSA Masters after clinching the largest deal in the history of the sport.