At the height of Bermuda's World Cup qualifying campaign, PHC players involved with the national team have been asked to abstain from training with the senior national squad until after March 2, Zebras assistant coach Jack Castle confirmed yesterday.

With Zebras presently in the hunt for Premier Division, Friendship Trophy and FA Cup honours at a "crucial" stage of the season, PHC players involved at the senior national level have been urged to put club before country only weeks ahead of Bermuda's World Cup qualifying second leg clash with Cayman Islands in the Caribbean.

And former assistant national team coach Castle, who was recently sacked from his post after falling out with boss Keith Tucker, has defended his club's stance, insisting it was a decision made in the "best interests of the players".

"We just think our players need to put priorities first and at present their first priority is with their club. It's a crucial time of the season and we are just looking out in the best interests of our players," Castle told The Royal Gazette.

"It's crunch time, decisions have to be made and hopefully the national coaches can understand the position we are in and respect what we have requested."

Zebras presently have five players involved in the senior national team set-up, including Bermuda Hogges pair Omar Shakir and Kevin Richards.

PHC, who take on Devonshire Cougars at BAA Field tonight in the Freindship Trophy semi-final, are ideally poised to clinch a first triple crown (league, Friendship and FA Cup) in 36 years.

Castle continued: "We made the request because we are looking at our position in the league, Friendship Trophy and FA Cup and at the performances of our players. We are not asking our players not to attend national team training . . . we just feel they need to get some rest.

"And we believe what we are doing is in the best interests of our players to get us through to the end of the season."

Meanwhile, Zebras' full-back Marquel Waldron is to undergo a last -minute fitness test to determine his health status ahead of tonight's cup clash with arch rivals Cougars.

Waldron limped off hurt with a suspected sprained ankle during Zebras' recent league win over Devonshire Colts.

"We will assess him (Waldron) to see whether he or not he can play before the match," Castle said.

In the previous meeting between the two sides Cougars got the better of Zebras in the Premier's Dudley Eve Cup semi-final last December via a penalty shoot-out.

Correction: Leon Raynor and not Jamie Smith as was reported in yesterday's Royal Gazette scored Hamilton Parish's winner against Paget at Lords on Sunday.

Note: Beginning next week all First Division reports will be published on Tuesdays with all representatives in the league or match officials asked to e-mail match stats to either cthompson@royalgazette.bm, swright@royalgazette.bm, or sport@royalgazette.bm.